Thursday 12 February 2015 19:53, UK
Tiger Woods needs time away from the limelight to fix his recent poor form and attempt to repair his shattered confidence, according to Sky Sports Golf expert Robert Lee.
The former world No 1 announced he will be taking an indefinite break from the sport to return to full fitness and improve his "unacceptable" recent form, which included a career-worst 11-over 82 at the Phoenix Open earlier this month.
Woods withdrew from last week's Farmers Insurance Open at his beloved Torrey Pines after completing only 11 holes of his first round, claiming afterwards that he was struggling with a lower-back problem caused by a lengthy fog delay.
The 14-time major winner remains hopeful of playing in the star-studded Honda Classic in a fortnight, but he insisted he will not tee it up in Florida unless he feels his game is "tournament-ready".
Sky Sports Golf pundit Rob Lee is unsurprised by the decision, and feels Woods is being affected by a number of issues other than form and fitness.
“His chipping and short game have been so bad,” Lee told Sky Sports News HQ. “His body has been battered, his confidence has been shot to pieces and he can’t do what he could always do, which was producing a 68 out of nowhere.
“I just don’t think he can stand being out there in the glare of the public eye and have to parade that (his poor short game). He’s got to get away, out the limelight and try and fix it.
“Could Tiger win a major again? Yes he could, if he can get back to ‘half-Tiger’ then he could win another major.
“Is he going to be the Tiger we’ve seen in the past where he averaged one major a year? We’re not going to see that Tiger again, that guy is never coming back.”
Click on the video to see Robert Lee's full interview on Sky Sports News HQ.
