Tiger Woods: Is He Really Done With Golf for 2011?

The status of Tiger Woods' injuries and the possibility of his return to competitive golf in 2011 remains a mystery.

On the heels of a surprising statement that he was parting ways with long time caddie Steve Williams, we still don't know much more than we did over a month ago when Woods announced he was going to miss the U.S. Open because of lingering knee and Achilles tendon issues.

Since that time, the British Open has also come and gone with no Tiger Woods in the field.

"I want to express my deepest gratitude to Stevie for all his help, but I think it's time for a change," Woods said on his official website this week. "Stevie is an outstanding caddie and a friend and has been instrumental in many of my accomplishments. I wish him great success in the future."

So, here's one of the best golfers of all-time—his body beat up from years of wear and tear—with no caddie and no real timetable as to when he'll return to the PGA Tour. It's all part of his seemingly endless comeback trail.

There was public humiliation. There have been much-publicized swing changes. And there have been injuries. Now the search for a new caddie begins. It leaves a lot of golf fans wondering if he ever really will "come back," that is, to the form we remember him in most vividly, as one of the best golfers in the history of the game.

It's anyone's guess at this point.

Of course, the PGA Tour wants him back as soon as possible. Tiger Woods' presence at any event equals big business. Like him or not, Woods attracts attention and that attention leads to increased revenue.

But realistically, with only one more major left on the 2011 tournament schedule, with each passing week it's looking less and less like Woods will find a good reason to make a comeback any time soon.

Woods has only played in six tournaments this year. And he has dropped all the way to No. 20 in the Official World Golf Ranking. His has not been a year to remember.

It appears he needs to completely reboot. Which could mean "shutting it down" for the remainder of this 2011 season and starting next year with a clean bill of health and a new outlook on his career.