TIGER WOODS cited game issues rather than physical concerns Monday for putting his return to competitive golf on hold.

    Woods will not compete until at least December after announcing that he has withdrawn from the Safeway Open, where he had just officially committed to play Friday after suggesting a month ago that he “hoped’’ to play this week at Silverado Resort, as well as next month at the Turkish Airlines Open.

    It was to be the 14-time major winner’s first tournament in more than 14 months after taking time away due to two back procedures in 2015.

    “After a lot of soul-searching and honest reflection I know that I am not yet ready to play on the PGA Tour or compete in Turkey,’’ Woods said on his website. “My health is good, and I feel strong, but my game is vulnerable and not where it needs to be.

    “When I announced last week I was going to Safeway, I had every intention of playing, or I wouldn’t have committed. I spent a week with the U.S. Ryder Cup team [as a vice captain], an honor and experience that inspired me even more to play. I practiced the last several days in California, but after a lot of hours, I knew I wasn’t ready to compete against the best golfers in the world.’’

    Notah Begay, Woods’ longtime friend who was with him at the Ryder Cup, said he spoke to Woods on Monday morning.

    “This is not at all health-related,’’ Begay told USAToday. “He said, ‘It’s just not there, man.’ When a player tells you that, he’s just not comfortable with every element of his game.’’

    Begay said Woods had only started hitting drivers in full six weeks and for the past month “had been trying to cram everything in.’’ Begay also noted that Woods lost a week due to his duties at the Ryder Cup, as well as time due to Hurricane Matthew near his home in South Florida.

    (SD-Agencies)