Tiger Woods’ upcoming schedule is as hazy as the fog at Torrey Pines

Tiger Woods’ most recent injury sparks serious questions about his long-term health, what his latest back-related withdrawal means for the rest of his playing days and whether we’ll ever see the former world No. 1 back in competition.

While the indications, as Woods Thursday hobbled out of yet another PGA Tour event prematurely, were certainly unpromising, it’s too soon to assess whether the back pain that cut short his opening round of the Farmers Insurance Open will be career-threatening (his short-game woes seemed so last week). What we can speculate on at this point, though, are the hurdles a presumably fit Woods faces if he’s to get golf-ready for Augusta.

Woods blamed a fog-delayed stop-and-start round for tightness in his lower back that got worse as his day progressed. After weather pushed back his tee time with Billy Horschel and Rickie Fowler and had them twiddling their thumbs a second time as well, Woods called it quits after hitting a tee shot on the par-3 third, his 12th hole of the day.

Before back spasms forced Woods off the course, expectations were he would play next at the Honda Classic at the end of the month and Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill event in March. In between the two tourneys, for which he had yet to commit but that have been staples on his schedule, was the no-cut WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral.

Getting in his competitive “reps” before each of the four majors is always important for the winner of 14 grand slam events whose goal of surpassing Jack Nicklaus’ mark of 18 major titles (if, in fact, that really is his aim; see: Hank Haney) seems less possible by the moment. It’s even more critical now for Woods, who, if he’s healthy, will likely have to find a substitute for the 72 assured holes at Trump National Doral.

After making his 2015 PGA Tour debut with a career-worst 82 and a missed cut at last week’s Phoenix open, Woods began the week at 56th in the world golf rankings. The Torrey withdrawal dropped him to No. 62, his lowest ranking since he was a rookie in 1996 -- a standing that would require Woods to finish high enough at the Honda to rebound into the top 50 and qualify for Doral.

Of course, everything hinges on the fitness of his back, but if Woods can compete before the Masters kicks off April 9, there are several opportunities for him to do so. He had until 5 p.m. ET Friday to commit to this week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which seemed a long shot given the quick turn-around after Thursday’s WD and the fact that Woods has played Bill Murray’s favorite event just twice in the last 13 years in 2002 and 2012. No surprise that Woods will not be in the Pebble field.

Then there’s the Northern Trust Open (Feb. 19-22), the Puerto Rico Open (March 5-8) opposite the Cadillac and the Valspar Championship (March 12-15) at Innisbrook. He could also tee it up at the Shell Houston Open (April 2-5), though playing the week before Augusta would be a first for Woods.