Tiger Woods admits he has "no timetable" for his return to golf after announcing he will not play in next week's Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Woods was keen to play at Bay Hill to honour the late tournament host Palmer, who died last September, but has not recovered from the back spasms which saw him withdraw from the Dubai Desert Classic at the start of February.

In a statement on his website, Woods wrote: "Unfortunately, due to ongoing rest and rehabilitation on my back, I won't be able to play in this year's Arnold Palmer Invitational.

"I'm especially disappointed because I wanted to be at Bay Hill to help honour Arnold. This is one event I didn't want to skip.

"Arnold has meant so much to me and my family; I thought of him as a close friend, and Sam and Charlie (Woods' children) were both born in the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. He will be greatly missed and can never truly be replaced.

"Presently, I have no timetable for my return to golf, but my treatments are continuing and going well."

The former world No 1 looks increasingly likely to miss the Masters for the third time in the last four years.

Meanwhile, defending champion SSP Chawrasia surged to the top of the leaderboard before bad weather disrupted the Hero Indian Open for the second day in succession.

Chawrasia carded a 67 at DLF Golf and Country Club to finish five-under-par and a shot ahead of England's David Horsey.

Play was then suspended for more than two and a half hours due to the threat of lightning, leaving 66 players to complete their second rounds on Saturday.

Stephen Gallacher finished on a one-under 144 after a 73 with Scott Jamieson one stroke back on 144.

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