Los Angeles, CA – Tiger Woods has announced his withdrawal from the Genesis Invitational, a PGA Tour event he hosts, just days before its start. Citing the recent death of his mother and a lack of preparation, Woods said he wasn't ready to compete.

"I will not play in the tournament this week. I hoped to be ready, but after a good practice session, I realized that I am not. I want to be out here and compete, but I need more time to prepare," Woods said in a statement released on Tuesday. "I will still be at The Riviera to support the tournament and my foundation."

Woods' mother, Kultida, passed away unexpectedly last week at the age of 80. She was reportedly planning to attend the Genesis Invitational. Woods said that while he wanted to play in honor of his mother, he was still grieving and needed more time to cope with her death.

"My mother was my best friend and biggest supporter," Woods said. "I will miss her dearly, and I know that she would have wanted me to play this week. But I'm not ready. I need to take some time to be with my family and mourn her loss."

Woods had initially announced his intention to play in the tournament last week, after taking some time to consider his options. However, he ultimately decided that he wasn't ready to compete at the highest level.

"I'm disappointed that I won't be able to play," Woods said. "But I know that it's the right decision. I need to focus on my family and my health right now. I'll be back on the course when I'm ready."

The Genesis Invitational is one of the most prestigious events on the PGA Tour, with a purse of $20 million. The tournament will be held at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, from February 15-18.

Woods' withdrawal is a blow to the tournament, which will now be without its star attraction. However, the tournament will still feature a strong field, including several of the world's top players.

Woods is a 15-time major champion and one of the most successful golfers of all time. He has won the Genesis Invitational twice, in 2008 and 2018.

Woods is expected to return to competition at the Masters Tournament in April.

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