Tiger Woods has admitted that retirement is a possibility as he continues to battle with the back problems which have kept him out of action in recent months.
Despite being world number one just 19 months ago, Woods suffered from a loss of form before being forced to undergo two operations on his back in the autumn.
The American revealed earlier this week that there is no timetable in place for his return, and the 39-year-old claims that he is under no illusions about whether he will be able to make another comeback.
When asked about the prospect of retiring in the near future, Woods told Time: "Put it this way. It's not what I want to have happen, and it's not what I'm planning on having happen. But if it does, it does. I've reconciled myself to it.
"I don't want it to happen. Without a doubt I do not. With all my heart, I do not want to stop playing golf. But the flip side is, my kids' lives are much more important to me. Now, if I can do both, that is an ideal world. It's a win-win. If I can only do one, it wouldn't be golf. It would be my kids. That's still a win-win."
Woods has not won a tournament since the Bridgestone Invitational in August 2013.
Callum Mulvihill
