Tiger Woods is ‘day to day,’ says agent Mark Steinberg

Tiger Woods may be stepping away from competitive golf forever or for as short a time as two weeks, but the way his manager is talking, it’s as if the death watch is on for the former world No. 1.

His client, Mark Steinberg told Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard Wednesday night, was “resting comfortably,” and “day to day,” leading anyone not immersed in the ongoing drama that is Tiger Woods to believe the second-winningest player in PGA Tour history had overcome some serious health scare.

Scare, perhaps, but not, this time for the injury-plagued ex-ace, about his health. As Woods noted in Tiger-speak on his website Wednesday night, he was taking a break from the PGA Tour to find himself and iron out the kinks of his wretched and mortifying short game.

“Right now, I need a lot of work on my game, and to still spend time with the people that are important to me,” Woods wrote, almost a week after withdrawing midway through his opening round of last week’s Farmers Insurance Open. “My play, and scores, are not acceptable for tournament golf ... When I think I’m ready, I’ll be back.”

His statement raised far more questions about what’s really going on with Jack Nicklaus’ nearest challenger in the majors race than putting to rest rumors about his future in the game he put on the map.

About the only thing clear about whatever it was Woods was saying was that he, indeed, was taking a break from playing and practicing golf, as he showed up Thursday in Colorado to watch girlfriend Lindsey Vonn compete.

Tiger was certainly taking time away from any course that was not downhill and covered in snow.

Apparently, that was always the plan. Steinberg said Woods had no plans to “get after it” until Monday, Hoggard reported Thursday as actual golfers were playing the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, where fan fave John Daly was off to a good start.

As to Tiger’s fitness, Steinberg wanted to make it clear that Woods’ physical health was not an issue. In fact, immediately after driving away from Torrey Pines last Thursday, Woods did not even see a doctor. Instead, his trainer and therapist worked on him, determined whatever pain caused Woods to grimace and grab at his back before WD’ing on his 12th hole (No. 3 at Torrey) was not serious, and gave Tiger a “clean bill of health,” Hoggard said.

“He was ‘resting comfortably,’” added Hoggard, quoting Steinberg.

While Woods’ clarifying statement clarifying nothing seemed to indicate he would go on an indeterminate leave of absence, Steinberg sought to clarify yet again.

“Mark really wants to describe this as a ‘day-to-day,’’” said Hoggard, who noted that if Woods plays well at home next week, he could show up at PGA National in two weeks for the start of the Honda Classic.

And if Tiger can’t regain the form he so stunningly has lost since his five-win 2013 season between Monday and next Friday’s deadline for committing to the Honda, then (to borrow a phrase from the Patriots four-time Super Bowl champion coach Bill Belichick), it’s on to Bay Hill.

That would be the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the next event on the tour schedule that’s in Tiger’s regular rotation and for which he would be eligible. By skipping the Honda, he would drop below his current 62nd spot in the world rankings and not qualify as one of the top 50 to make it into next month’s WGC-Cadillac Championship.

While Hoggard said the Honda tournament director was preparing to host Woods, as usual, it all boils down to the 14-time major champion wanting to deal with the shortcomings in his game out of the spotlight. Right now, it’s abundantly clear that Tiger has to work through his problems -- especially those involving his sorry short game -- without hearing criticism every time he skulls or chunks a wedge shot.

As Hoggard observed, during Thursday’s 2.5-hour fog delay -- the one that caused his glutes to deactivate (more Tiger-speak for his lower back tightened up) Woods dropped three balls, chipped one close to the pin, knocked one 20 feet past, and picked up the third.

The point was glaringly obvious, according to Hoggard, and which Tiger intimate Notah Begay III confirmed Wednesday night when he said his friend’s recent performance was “embarrassing.“ The guy who used to live for the limelight and would make any competitor whom he perceived had belittled him in any way pay inside the ropes (see: Stephen Ames) now cannot practice a chip shot in front of paying customers or his peers, whom he routinely bludgeoned back in the day and in the light of day.

So, no, Tiger’s not on his deathbed, but his game is certainly on life support.