Why is Tiger Woods not playing at The Open this year, and when was the last time he played golf?
Former world number 1 has experienced a problematic 2017 following back surgery and DUI arrest
THE Open is just round the corner as all eyes turn to Royal Birkdale for the 146th British Open.
The tournament was won last year in historic fashion by Swede Henrik Stenson with a record breaking score of twenty under par over 72 holes.
But three-time Open winner Tiger Woods - who this week fell out of world top 1000 for the first time in his career - will not be challenging him this year.
The yank won at St. Andrews in 2000 and followed this up with back to back wins in 2005 and 2006.
However, he won't be entering the tournament this year.
Why isn't Tiger Woods at The Open 2017?
All Open champions aged under 60 earn an exemption to the competition, which gives Tiger, 41, an instant place on the leader board.
However, he won't be taking his place this year, having only just come out of rehab.
Tiger was submitted into Jupiter Medical Centre near his Florida home after being arrested for DUI. He reportedly reserved the entire male inpatient unit for the 28 day stint.
He was found sleeping behind the wheel of his banged-up Mercedes Benz on May 29, and later admitted to cops he had taken both Xanax and Vicodin.
His time in rehab is supposedly an attempt to not trigger a clause in his and ex-wife Elin Nordegren's divorce agreement, which states Tiger could lose 20% of his custody of their two children if he's involved in a public scandal.
This is the third time Tiger has appeared in rehab, after checking himself into Pine Grove Rehabilitation Centre for sex addiction treatment in 2010, and then receiving treatment for Vicodin addiction at The Meadows in Arizona.
When was the last time Tiger Woods played?
Tiger's last appearance on the course was in January, competing in the Farmers Insurance Open, where he missed the cut.
He was due to compete in various tournaments after this but withdrew from them all.
On April 19 he underwent fusion surgery on his back and released a statement on his website, stating that: “it is hard to express how much better I feel”.
He needed at least six months recovery after the surgery, but it is unclear whether his time in rehab will affect this.
When will Tiger Woods play golf again?
It is unclear when Tiger will play golf again.
He has now missed then Open two years in a row.
After his surgery he said he wanted to play professional golf again, but it wouldn't be happening any time soon.
