Tiger Woods has cited fatigue as the motivating factor behind his decision to skip this week's WGC-HSBC Champions event.
Organisers of tournament have expressed their frustration that both Woods and world number one Rory McIlroy pulled out of the competition but Woods insists he just didn't have the energy to compete.
"I was tired and doing these things is not easy. Competing and getting ready for another golf tournament, I just didn't want to do that," said the 36-year-old.
"I've got four more rounds at my tournament in LA and I'm done until Abu Dhabi next year so I'm looking forward to having this extended break. This is my off-season now and I'm really looking forward to getting away from it."
"Competing and playing golf tournaments after a long schedule, the playoffs, the Ryder Cup and a lot of other tournaments, it's been a while."
Woods is playing his first full season since 2005 and having won three times on the PGA Tour he admits that he's happy with what he has achieved in 2012.
"This year, I've had three wins and things are certainly progressing nicely," said the American.
"Last year I was 127th on the (PGA Tour) money list, or whatever I was, and this year I'm second so that's a pretty good improvement in a year and given that I'm healthy I'm really looking forward to next year."
golf365.com