Tiger Woods was forced to pull out of the next tournament on his schedule after suffering a back injury and that means the Arnold Palmer Invitational will be without its defending champion after he won it last year and the move could put his status for the The Masters in jeopardy depending on how serious it is.

According to ESPN.com, Woods said that he was forced to pull out of the tournament due to a back injury that he has been dealing with over the past few weeks and while he said it's too early to know if it will affect the Masters, it will keep him out of action this week. Woods was forced to withdraw from the Honda Classic in the final round after dealing with his back and last tournament at the WGC was a tough time as well and he did not stay in contention into the final day.

Woods won the tournament last year and that was one of three times he won before the first major and five overall on tour for the season. Woods has had a tough start to the year and now he is hoping to get back to full strength for the Masters last month and he said that he was disappointed he had to pull out of the Invitational coming up.

"Called Arnold today to tell him that sadly I won't be able to play," Woods said on his website. "Back spasms and the pain haven't subsided.

"It's too early to know about the Masters, and I will continue to be evaluated and work closely with my doctors. I feel badly that I won't be able to play in this great tournament this week."