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Tiger Woods says his injured back needs rest after casting significant doubt over his hopes of a Masters title defence by pulling out of next week's elite Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass due to a back injury.

On Friday, Woods announced he would skip the elite Players Championship, which he was won twice.

"It was not an easy decision, but I will not be attending (the Players)," Woods posted to Twitter. "I have to listen to my body and properly rest when needed.

"My back is simply just not ready for play next week. I'm sad to miss one of the best events of the season."

Earlier on Friday, Woods' agent Mark Steinberg released a statement saying: "Back just not ready. Not concerning long term, just not ready.''

The 15-time major winner also withdrew from this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, where he had won eight times.

Woods, 44, has had four back surgeries in his career, including spinal fusion surgery in 2017 that sidelined him for 10 months.

However, his back was healthy enough throughout 2019 to win a fifth Masters green jacket in April before a record-equalling 82nd US PGA Tour victory at the Zozo Championship in Japan in October.

He was also the only player to go undefeated in all matches at December's President Cup at Royal Melbourne, where he led his US team to victory as a playing captain.

Woods also appeared healthy at the beginning of this year, making his 2020 debut in January at the Farmers Insurance Open where he tied for ninth.

At his own event, the Genesis Invitational at Los Angeles' Riviera Country Club in February, Woods caused concern when he did not practice on a sunny Tuesday before the tournament.

Woods began the Genesis with a creditable 69 but finished in last place of all the players who made the cut.

"I feel stiff, but I have weeks like that, especially in the cold mornings like it was the other day,'' Woods said following the third round of the Genesis three weeks ago.

"I don't quite move as well and that's just kind of how it's going to go.''

Woods will now be under speculation of where he will play next and whether he will get enough competitive rounds in before the Masters.

At the first major of the year, which will be played April 9-12, Woods aims to equal Jack Nicklaus' record of six green jacket wins at Augusta National.

Rory McIlroy has further distanced himself from a cashed-up world golf tour, with the world No.1 declaring he "didn't like where the money was coming from."

Moments after posting the clubhouse lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida on Thursday, McIlroy was asked on host TV broadcaster Golf Channel about his withdrawal from discussions with the rival Premier Golf League.

"I didn't really like where the money was coming from either; I wanted to be the first one to speak out against it and I'm glad that I have," said McIlroy, who was pipped by eventual first-round leader Matt Every (65).

The PGL is a proposed lucrative international league that would feature the top 48 golfers playing 18 tournaments a year, each with a prize purse of $US10 million ($A15 million).

Ten of the events would be in the United States, while organisers have targeted the Australian Open as one of eight overseas tournaments they want to acquire.

British company the World Golf Group recently announced plans to launch the PGL in 2022 and it is reportedly backed by Saudi Arabian financiers.

According to an email from US PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan to US-based players, the PGL is backed by "Saudi interests."

Last month, Scottish newspaper The Scotsman reported powerbrokers of the PGL played in the pro-am with Phil Mickelson at the Saudi International event on the European Tour.

The Scotsman identified three of the individuals: Majed Al-Sorour, CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation, Colin Neville of the Raine Group, and Andrew Gardiner, a director at Barclays Capital.

The Raine Group has been announced as one of the PGL partners, and Neville has orchestrated past sports transactions like the Ultimate Fighting Championship's $4 billion sale and Manchester City's deal with a group of Chinese investors.

McIlroy recently withdrew his interest in being courted by the PGL, declaring that "I'm out."

The Northern Irishman cited a schedule that was too restrictive and many predicted the concept would fizzle without his profile.

The four-time major winner doubled down on those comments at Orlando's Bay Hill course on Thursday.

"The reason I said what I said was because we were in Mexico (for the World Golf Championships in February) and some (players) decided not to go," said McIlroy about eight of the world's top 10 golfers skipping the WGC event in Mexico City.

"But that was their choice; that was the freedom that they had. They have autonomy over their schedule and they can pick and choose when and where they want to play.

"But that's not the case with this new league; you're going to be contracted to play 18 events.

"They're going to tell you where and when you should be there.

"As a golfer and an independent contractor, I didn't like the sound of that.

"I'd like to think I'm quite a loyal person and the PGA Tour has given me a platform to showcase my skills and build my brand and become this athlete that I am."

Arnold Palmer Invitational first-round leader Matt Every has called on the US PGA Tour and the World Anti-Doping Agency to allow athletes to use marijuana for medical use having been suspended last year.

Every, twice a winner of the Palmer event, was suspended for 12 weeks for violating the PGA Tour's Conduct Policy for drug abuse.

Every revealed the suspension was for cannabis for which he has a legal prescription in the state of Florida for a mental health condition.

Two months after his suspension ended, he shot a scintillating 65 on day one at Florida's Bay Hill course to top the Palmer leaderboard at seven under.

World No.1 and 2018 Palmer champion Rory McIlroy (66) is a shot behind him.

The US PGA Tour follows the WADA code and cannabis is on its list of banned substances.

Every, who suffers from anxiety, was irritated more consideration wasn't given to mental health by the US PGA Tour and WADA.

"I think it would be cool if we were proactive about it and made some changes," he said.

"Anxiety is a real thing and the way I treat it is the healthiest way possible for my body.

"But WADA doesn't think so and the Tour goes by what WADA says. It's really silly, to be honest.

"Now I'm kind of fired up about it, so I'm going to stop talking."

When Every was suspended in October, he explained he was not eligible to use prescription 'Z class' drugs such as Xanax.

"It bothers me that (cannabis) is even an issue (and) on the list of banned substances," he said on Thursday.

"You could fail for heroin and marijuana and the penalty is the same. If anyone wants to make the argument that that is performance enhancing, they have never done it before."

Meanwhile, Marc Leishman (71) was best of the Australians at one-under-par, six behind Every.

Leishman brought long-time swing coach Denis McDade from Australia to his Virginia Beach home last week to sharpen his game with less than six weeks until the Masters, the year's first major.

"Dennis and I were starting our Augusta prep, as well as Players Championship next week and the (World Golf Championships) Match Play before Augusta," Leishman told AAP.

"The Arnold Palmer is one of my favourite events of the year so I wanted to be sharp.

"Hopefully I can shoot a low one tomorrow and get myself up the leaderboard for the weekend."

Leishman's fellow Australians, Jason Day, Adam Scott and Matt Jones, all struggled on day one.

Day (74) is two over, while Jones (75) is three over and Scott (77) five over.

Augusta National has confirmed the Masters will go ahead as planned but will monitor the Coronavirus outbreak in the US during the lead-up to the prestigious April major.

On Wednesday, the 11th death linked to the Coronavirus was recorded in the US.

Masters chairman Fred Ridley issued a statement on Wednesday, detailing the club was working with health authorities.

He confirmed the 84th edition of the Masters and second Augusta National Women's Amateur will both be contested in mid-April.

An estimated 210,000 fans attend the Masters each year across the three practice rounds and four tournament rounds.

Even more fans pile into Augusta, Georgia to be close to the atmosphere of the first major of the year.

"Augusta National is not only monitoring the situation closely, but also consulting with relevant experts, including the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Georgia Department of Public Health and local authorities," Ridley said in a statement.

"As a result of this collaboration, and based upon our knowledge of the situation at this time, we are proceeding as scheduled for the Augusta National Women's Amateur, the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals and the Masters Tournament.

"We will continue to review the available facts and information with the experts and authorities, establish precautions and take appropriate action to ensure the safety of all involved."

Augusta's statement was applauded by Australian stars Jason Day and Marc Leishman.

Leishman and Day will contest the Masters alongside countrymen Adam Scott and Cameron Smith, as well as Australian amateur Lukas Michel.

"It's a relief; around the world everyone is concerned about the virus but it's great Augusta are taking the right precautions for the safety of not only the players but everyone who will walk on the grounds that week," Day told AAP.

Leishman added: "You have to put people's health first, but everyone wants to play the Masters and I'm sure the men and the women for the amateur event welcomes this news."

Leishman and Day will contest this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Florida.

Both are winners of the Palmer event, while Scott and Matt Jones are also in the field.

Adam Scott still believes a cashed-up world golf tour could still work despite several top players including Rory McIlroy pouring cold water on the rival Premier Golf League.

Recently, superstars McIlroy and Brooks Koepka admitted they were less enthusiastic about the Premier Golf League, which has been proposed by British-based World Golf Group (WGG).

WGG recently announced plans to launch the PGL in 2022, which is reportedly backed by Saudi Arabian financiers.

WGG says the lucrative league would feature the top 48 golfers playing 18 tournaments a year, each with a prize purse of $US10 million ($A15 million).

Ten of the events would be in the United States, while organisers have targeted the Australian Open as one of eight overseas tournaments they want to acquire.

However McIlroy, a four-time major winner, recently distanced himself form the PGL.

"I'm out; I like to have freedom and I don't like what they're proposing," he said last month.

Koepka, also a four-time major winner who McIlroy deposed as world No.1, said the rich sums being floated by the PGL would not be enough to persuade him to abandon the US PGA Tour.

"Money doesn't matter," the 29-year-old said. "If somebody gave me $200 million tomorrow it's not going to change my life. I just want to play against the best."

It is unlikely the stars approached by the PGL will be able to play both the rival league and the US PGA Tour, regarded as the most elite circuit in the sport.

US PGA Tour players must seek a "release" from the commissioner each time they want to play an event outside their home tour and are unlikely to be given 18.

Several players and golf commentators predicted the PGL concept was dead in the water after McIlroy's withdrawal, given his profile and ability would be crucial to getting the new league off the ground.

However, Australian former world No.1 Scott believes there is still plenty of merit to consider.

"I'm still very positive about the concept of what it could be, for sure," Scott said on Wednesday in Florida ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

"That doesn't mean I think it's going to happen, necessarily.

"Everyone sees it from somewhat of their own agenda. Being an international player, the thought of a world tour sounds really great.

"I don't think my sentiment on the concept has changed at all. I still think it's fantastic."

Jason Day is getting excited for the upcoming Masters at Augusta National now that his injured back is healthy enough to putt for longer periods of time.

Day will contest this week's prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida, which he won in 2016, as he kicks off competitive preparations for the first major of the year.

Usually one of the world's best on the greens, Day's back injury had prevented him from putting for more than 30 minutes at a time earlier this year.

But the former world No.1 has ramped up his putting training in time for next week's elite Players Championship and April's Masters.

"My back is much better and we're coming into warm Florida weather, which helps," Day told AAP at Orlando's Bay Hill course on Tuesday.

"I'm now putting for an hour-and-a-half; only 30 minutes or so less than what I normally do."

Day's final three events before Augusta are the Palmer Invitational, next week's Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass and the upcoming World Golf Championships Match Play.

Although he has won all three tournaments before and would like to again, he said the bigger picture was to sharpen up for the Masters.

"You're trying to work out the kinks now, so that you're heading into Augusta firing on all cylinders," Day said.

"My putting is improving and I'd like to develop the confidence to commit to my green reads these next three weeks.

"I also need to straighten up the driver and tidy up the short game, but overall, the game feels pretty good."

But Day is predicting tough scoring conditions at the 7454 yards, par 72 Bay Hill course, which torments golfers with fast greens, brutally thick rough and myriad water hazards.

"I think it's going to be tough enough that single digits will win; and I like tough conditions," he said.

For the first two rounds this week Day is paired with countryman Adam Scott, who won the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles last month, as well as world No.3 Brooks Koepka.

Back firing on all cylinders, Adam Scott wants to atone this week for a collapse at the 2014 Arnold Palmer Invitational as he ramps up preparations for next month's Masters.

The former world No.1 jumped back into the top 10 after claiming his first US PGA Tour win in almost four years at the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles last month.

He plans to capitalise on that form as he attempts to lift the Palmer trophy at Bay Hill, the brutish Orlando course where he threw away the final round lead in 2014.

In that edition, Scott opened with a course record-equalling 62 before holding a three-shot lead after the first round, a seven-shot lead after day two and a three-shot lead after 54 holes.

But with a Sunday 76, he finished third; two shots behind winner Matt Every.

"I gave that tournament away," Scott admitted on Tuesday.

Scott's return to form is timely with his bid for a second Masters green jacket looming in less than six weeks.

He will contest this week's Palmer event, then the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass before using the World Golf Championships as his final tune-up.

"I feel my game is in really great shape and I want to take advantage of it," Scott said.

"The Arnold Palmer is on my list as one I'd really love to win.

"I've had some great rounds here and I'd like to get myself back in a position this week where it's my tournament to win or lose.

"The Players is next week and the Masters is not long after, so it's all very important right now."

Scott will play the opening two rounds this week with 2016 Palmer champion Jason Day, as well as four-time major winner Brooks Koepka.

"It'll be fun to play with those guys; the crowds will be on us and it will have a big feel to it," Scott said.

"I think Bay Hill is going to be pretty tough this week with firm greens and a bit of rough.

"If it stays dry it, will be a test of the patience, of your mental game and surviving, which is what majors throw at you."

Other Australians in the field include 2017 winner Marc Leishman and Matt Jones.

The Palmer event is a prestigious stop on the US PGA Tour which affords the winner a three-year exemption and a $US1.674 million cheque.

The European Tour Qualifying School will make its first appearance outside of Europe when Rosebud Country Club hosts a First Stage event in 2020.

European Tour hopefuls will tee it up in Australia from September 1-4, marking the first time in the European Tour Qualifying School’s 45-year history that an event will be staged in the country and outside of Europe.

Rosebud Country Club, based on the outskirts of Melbourne, will be the first event of the 2020 Qualifying School journey when it hosts Section A First Stage, which will see competitors play four rounds, with the leading players earning a place in Second Stage.

The club, which opened in 1964, boasts two 18-hole golf courses and has hosted an Australian PGA Championship (1976).

“We are thrilled to have a European Tour Qualifying School event in Australia for the first time. It is a historic moment for Qualifying School as we move to new venues across the globe, with the desire to play European Tour golf continuing to grow,” said Mike Stewart, European Tour Qualifying School Director.

“Australia has a famed history of producing world-class golfers and we have seen that already this season with Adam Scott, Lucas Herbert and Min Woo Lee already winners on the 2020 Race to Dubai. With a Qualifying School event in Australia, it provides golfers in the Asia-Pacific region the opportunity to earn their place on the European Tour.

“We are looking forward to working with Nick Dastey at the PGA of Australia, as well as Danny McGrath and his team at Rosebud Country Club, ahead of this exciting occasion for golf in this region.”

Danny McGrath, Rosebud Country Club General Manager, said the club was thrilled to stage such a significant event.

“Rosebud Country Club is extremely honoured to be partnering with the European Tour to host the First Stage Qualifying School event, held outside of Europe,” McGrath said.

“Our club has a proud member base and a strong history of supporting the PGA of Australia and its members. We are very excited to have the opportunity to showcase the first-class North course to the entrants and contribute to fulfilling a dream of qualifying to play on the European Tour in 2021.”

Nick Dastey, the PGA’s Tournaments Director Australasia, said hosting a qualifying event in Melbourne will give more Aussie golfers the opportunity to advance their careers onto the European Tour.

“We are really excited to work with our partners at the European Tour to bring the very first European Tour Qualifying School First Stage to Australia,” Dastey said.

“This is a great opportunity for our members along with the elite amateurs in this country looking to turn professional. The Rosebud Country Club is a fantastic facility and one that will be a fitting host for this ground-breaking event.

“The PGA of Australia has had a terrific and long-lasting relationship with Rosebud, which previously hosted the Australian PGA Championship and many Pro-Am events”.

The importance of First Stage was shown by Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet in 2019, as he progressed through all three stages to clinch the 28^th and final European Tour card at Final Stage in November. American Kurt Kitayama won Section D First Stage in 2018 ahead of claiming his European Tour playing rights en route to his successes in Mauritius and Oman.

Jake McLeod (2019), Deyen Lawson and Nick Cullen (2018) are some of the recent Australians to earn their European Tour cards through Qualifying School.

Golf Australia has announced that Stephen Pitt has resigned as Chief Executive Officer after 11 years in the role and will step down from the Organisation later this year.

Pitt joined Golf Australia in 2008 and oversaw a period of change and expansion, including the growth and consolidation of the Australian Opens, the introduction of the MyGolf junior golfers program, which has 28,000 members, the National Vision 2025 strategy and most recently the new governance structure.

He will assist the Board as required with the transition process and with the finalisation of key commercial arrangements.

‘Stephen has achieved a great deal, including to bring five Australian states and territories into Golf Australia’s One Golf National administration model,’ Golf Australia Chairman Andrew Newbold said. ‘This has not been an easy process; we remain hopeful of completing the transition to One Golf as soon as possible in the near future.

Stephen has also been the driving force behind Vision 2025 – which aims to increase female involvement in golf in Australia – and has in recent years overseen various programs to increase golf participation and to improve the health of the sport generally.”

Amongst other things, Pitt also successfully secured the return of the GOLF Link rights back to Golf Australia, served on the global board of the World Handicapping System and implemented a world first “Give Back” program with High Performance program graduates to fund future athletes.

Under his tenure Golf Australia grew substantially with the number of people dedicated to game development increasing from one in 2008 to 31 in 2020. In addition, Golf Australia’s investment in new programs grew tenfold.

‘I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with Golf Australia for eleven years,” Pitt said.

‘I believe, as a team, we achieved a lot of great things for golf in that time and I’m of the firm view the new One Golf structure is the right one for our game and will deliver significant dividends in the future.

‘The last 12 months have been difficult at times; particularly in terms of our financial performance and I take responsibility for last year’s result and also the challenges we’ve been working through this financial year. However, I believe we have a strong Board, great staff and a range of excellent National programs and I know the organisation and the game generally will flourish in the years ahead,” Pitt said.

Golf Australia will use the services of a top recruitment agency to undertake a global search for a new CEO.

Last month, I made the trek to Orlando, Florida, for the massive PGA Merchandise Show. Over four full days, I walked the “miles” of aisles, and sampled hundreds upon hundreds of products.

One thing I noticed while touring this behemoth of a golf show, is that the level of innovation in the golf products industry is ramping up. Technology is front and centre, and there are so many innovative offerings available it made my head spin. Every part of the game is undergoing a monumental transformation, from the humble golf tee all the way through to the high-tech GPS and Laser rangefinders, there is HEAPS of technology available to help us all play better, and enjoy the game more.

As an example, Bushnell Golf introduced the Wingman; a combination GPS device and boom box/personal speaker. Now, you can drive your cart up to your ball, listening to your favourite music, and get your distances to the green. It was one of the most talked-about products at the show. So too was the Finn Scooter, which is essentially a golf buggy in the guise of an electric motorbike. Sleek and snazzy, it oozes fun, and it had tongues wagging at the show. Another great innovation comes from Club Car, with their Golf4Fun product: a four-person golf cart that is tailored for a family: two adults in the front, two kids in the back, and all four bags in the rear.

It was (as always) a truly eye-opening experience. (Be sure to check our full writeup here).

Unfortunately, this same level of excitement and innovation is NOT matched when it comes to many of our country’s golf clubs and courses.

Many clubs (and members) still grasp at old-fashioned principles. For every forward-thinking club in Australia that adopts/welcomes Gender Neutrality, there are likely a dozen that continue to eschew the idea of women playing on a Saturday. For every modern club that initiates a family-friendly culture (and memberships), there are a dozen that dig in their heels and resist welcoming junior golfers. For every smart club that welcomes technology like GPS/Rangefinders, fun golf carts/boards, computerised scoring, and fun/modern golf attire, there are dozens more that cling to manual scoring, banning mobile phones and personal golf carts, and insisting upon the old chestnut of a standard collared shirt, white socks and subdued colours/logos.

As we all know, the Golf Industry is struggling to attract the next generation of players. Generation Z and the Millennials are our key market—and these segments are highly enticed/addicted to technology (in fact, these generations know no other world than the high-tech world), yet clubs (not to mention our governing bodies) fail to acknowledge this, as they desperately grasp onto a belief that golf was fine in the good-ol’ days, so it should be good today.

Now, more than ever before, we need to open our eyes and embrace the new products, ideas and technology, or risk falling even further behind.

To succeed, golf must adapt to society. Because, let’s face it, society will not adapt for golf.

As always, I welcome your comments

See you on the fairways,

Richard Fellner