Tiger Woods Will Not Participate in Wells Fargo Championship

Current World No. 1 Tiger Woods will not participate in the upcoming 2013 Wells Fargo Championship according to his agent, Mark Steinberg.

Steinberg confirmed in an email via the Associated Press (h/t ESPN) that reports of Woods skipping the tournament were "accurate," with the American star "sticking to his long break after the Masters," where he finished in a tie for fourth place.

The report goes on to state that Woods' three-weak break after the Masters is customary for the star golfer, but because of a scheduling change this year, the Wells Fargo Championship comes only two weeks after the Masters, thus leading Tiger to not participate.

Woods' absence will be a huge blow for tournament organizers, who would have planned for a big crowd at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C. He last won this event in 2007.

However, Woods' absence will provide a great chance for golf's biggest names to close the gap on him at the top of the world golf standings, where he recently clinched the top spot from Rory McIlroy.

Woods has enjoyed a stellar 2013 season season so far, with four top-five finishes and three tournament victories from his six appearances on tour.

He might be somewhat frustrated at not finishing better at Augusta, but after a steady first few days and his final-round surge that saw him rise up the leaderboard, he showed that he still has what it takes to be a force on the hallowed course. Overall, it was certainly a solid showing.

His illegal drop and subsequent two-stroke penalty remained the biggest talking point of the tournament, however, and this ultimately played a factor in his quest at earning a fifth green jacket. 

Still, the fourth-place finish was nothing to be ashamed of, and it has him poised to continue his success throughout the remainder of 2013.

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