No long-term fear as Woods misses Bay Hill

Tiger Woods is confident the neck injury keeping him out of this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational will not hamper him in the upcoming Masters (Woods 14/1 – Masters Outright).

The 43-year-old has been forced to withdraw from Bay Hill due to a neck strain and has therefore been denied the opportunity to win a ninth title at the Florida venue.

However, the 14-time major winner is confident that the problem will not hamper him going forward and he will be able to take part in next week’s Players Championship and in the upcoming majors.

“Unfortunately due to a neck strain that I’ve had for a few weeks, I’m forced to withdraw from the API,” he said on Twitter.

“I’ve been receiving treatment, but it hasn’t improved enough to play. My lower back is fine, and I have no long-term concerns, and I hope to be ready for The Players.”

There will still be a stellar line-up for this week’s event, with Rory McIlroy the 6/1 favourite to defend the title he won 12 months ago by three shots from Bryson DeChambeau (16/1).

Justin Rose (11/1), Brooks Koepka (12/1), Rickie Fowler (12/1), Jason Day (14/1) and Tommy Fleetwood (33/1) will all tee it up at ‘Arnie’s Place’.

All the top stars will be hoping to do well to give them a confidence boost with one eye on Augusta as the Masters due to begin on April 11.

Dustin Johnson is not playing this week but has been installed as a 10/1 favourite to win a first Green Jacket at the Georgia venue.

Rory McIlroy (11/1) needs to win to complete his collection of majors while Rose (12/1) appears to have the game to claim his second major.

Woods (14/1) has not won one of golf’s four biggest prizes for more than a decade but would be a popular winner after overcoming multiple injuries to make it back to the top of the sport.

Odds subject to change.