Tiger Woods Injury: Latest News on Star Before 2015 Arnold Palmer Invitational

Tiger Woods won't play in the 2015 Arnold Palmer Invitational, an event he's won a record eight times, as he attempts to rediscover his elite form. The 14-time major champion is focused on getting his game ready for the Masters.

Woods announced the decision not to play at Bay Hill on his official site last week. He spoke with Palmer to notify him of the decision and said that while progress is being made, he just isn't prepared to take his game into competitive action at this stage.

"I've put in a lot of time and work on my game and I'm making strides, but like I've said, I won't return to the PGA Tour until my game is tournament-ready and I can compete at the highest level," Woods wrote.

"I hope to be ready for the Masters, and I will continue to work hard preparing for Augusta."

It's the second straight season he will miss the tournament. He won the event for the eighth time in 2013 en route to a five-win campaign. His level of play has dropped off considerably since that point, however, due to a combination of factors, the most notable being his health.

Woods wasn't able to play in last year's Arnold Palmer Invitational because of back issues that lingered throughout most of 2014. Now he's dealing with on-course issues as well, particularly involving his play around the greens.

As a result, it's fair to wonder if the Woods who used to dominate the field, even at the majors, will ever return, or if those days are a thing of the past.

Steve DiMeglio of USA Today passed along comments from Palmer, who confirmed he talked with Woods for a short time about his decision not to play. He said the most important thing for the former world No. 1 is getting his confidence back.

"There's only one thing I can say and that's practice, and confidence," Palmer said. "He has to regain the confidence he had when he was starting out and that was what made him what he is. And that's the way he'll get it back."

Between the health troubles last season and the game woes this year, it's been a long time since fans have seen a vintage Tiger performance. The result is a ranking that has plummeted.

Jason Sobel of Golf Channel used March Madness to put Woods' current standing in perspective:

Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel provided some insight from Sean O'Hair, who owns four career PGA Tour wins but always possessed the talent to become a more consistent presence atop the leaderboard. He understands what Woods is going through.

"I just think that he's lost, and the only reason why I say that is because I see it in his eyes and I see it in how he's walking and I see it in how he's playing because that's where I've been," O'Hair said. "I've been living it."

He explained what stands between the fan favorite and a return to prominence.

"I think his mind is just a little clouded, and I don't think it has anything to do with his golf swing," O'Hair said. "I just think there's something there that's bothering him, and I think once he addresses that, he'll be right back to where he was."

If Woods ends up skipping The Masters, which starts on April 9, the next major isn't until the U.S. Open in late June. He's been insistent about not playing until he feels truly ready, and that would buy him a couple of extra months.

That said, it's impossible to know exactly where Woods' game stands. Perhaps he's close to a breakthrough after putting in the necessary work. But at the same time, he can't put too much stress on his body with endless practice sessions and risk another injury setback.

The situation should become clearer over the next few weeks.