Tiger Woods to miss Masters after back surgery

Tiger Woods will miss the Masters, confirming on Twitter and on his website.

"Sad to say I'm missing the Masters," he tweeted Tuesday. "Thanks to the fans for so many kind wishes."

Woods revealed that he underwent surgery on a pinched nerve that had been nagging him for several months.

The successful microdiscectomy was performed Monday in Park City, Utah, by neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Rich.

"After attempting to get ready for the Masters and failing to make the necessary progress, I decided, in consultation with my doctors, to have this procedure done," Woods said. "I'd like to express my disappointment to the Augusta National membership, staff, volunteers and patrons that I will not be at the Masters.

"It's a week that's very special to me. It also looks like I'll be forced to miss several upcoming tournaments to focus on my rehabilitation and getting healthy."

Woods, the world's No. 1 player, was forced to withdraw from the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens with five holes remaining in the final round.

He aggravated the injury a week later en route to a final-round 78 in the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral, then skipped the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, where he was the two-time defending champion.

At the time, Woods expressed uncertainty over whether or not the discomfort might prevent him from competing April 10 in the Masters, a tournament he has won four times.

It will mark the first time that he has missed the season's first major since making his debut at Augusta National as an amateur in 1995.

'This is frustrating'

"This is frustrating," Woods said. "But it's something my doctors advised me to do for my immediate and long-term health."

"It's tough right now," he continued. But I'm absolutely optimistic about the future.

"There are a couple [of] records by two outstanding individuals and players that I hope one day to break. As I've said many times, Sam [Snead] and Jack [Nicklaus] reached their milestones over an entire career.

"I plan to have a lot of years left in mine."