“It gives me a couple of weeks to recover and a week to tune up. Maybe I can get into the rhythm.” For a time, it appeared as if the 15-time major winner looked to be on the right track, signing up and competing in The Genesis Invitational in February.

However, his comeback bid was cut short after he was forced to withdraw from the event in the second round by what he defined as the flu. “I would like to confirm that I had to withdraw from @thegenesisinv due to illness, which we now know is influenza,” he posted.

“I am resting and feeling better. Good luck to the players this weekend. I’m disappointed to not be there and want to thank @GenesisUSA and all the fans for the support.”Tiger Woods withdrew from The Genesis Invitational after dealing with an illness ( Image: Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Woods also was absent from The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, after deciding not to partake in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The Players initially was one of the events that Woods had planned to participate in but that was not the case.

“I think that the best scenario would be maybe a tournament a month. I think that’s realistic,” he said in December. “You would have to start with maybe at Genesis and then something in March near the Players.

“Again, we have it set up right now the biggest events are one per month. It sets itself up for that. Now, I need to get myself ready for all that. I think this week is a big step in that direction.”

With so many injury concerns, many golf fans have pondered Woods’ future on the tour. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan offered an insight into the legendary golfer’s status and what the rest of the year could hold for Woods.

“I think you all know Tiger well enough to know that he wants to earn his way into every competition. That’s his makeup,” Monahan said if he would introduce a special category for past champions to participate. “But I think as you go forward, as you evolve as an organization, you think about how do you serve and satisfy a rabid fan base?

“Those discussions, more broadly, would likely be held at the policy board meeting. And I’m sure we would have that discussion. But he’d be the hardest one to convince.”