Neck injury forces Tiger out

Ponte Verde Beach - Tiger Woods withdrew from the Players championship during the final round on Sunday citing a neck injury.

Woods, whose five-year-reign as world number one could end this week if Phil Mickelson wins the tournament, lasted less than seven holes before quitting at the Sawgrass TPC.

"I've been playing with a bad neck for a while," said Woods, who was competing in just his third tournament of the year after a sex scandal prompted him to take a five-month break from the game.

"I might have a bulging disk. They want me to get a picture on it next week.

"I've been playing through it. I can't play through it any more. I know playing doesn't help it.

"I'm having a hard time with the pain," added Woods. "There's tingling down my fingers, just the right side. Setting up over the ball is fine but once I start making the motion, it's downhill from there."

Woods said he first felt the pain prior to last month's Masters, where he finished tied for fourth in his first tournament of the year.

Woods, who missed the cut last week in Charlotte, was two-over for the round, two-under for the tournament when he withdrew.