( CNN ) -- For the second golf major in a row , Tiger Woods will be missing . The world No . 3 and 14-time major champion announced Wednesday he would miss the U.S. Open as he continued his recovery from back surgery . Woods went under the knife to repair a pinched nerve in March and also missed the first major of the year -- The Masters -- in April . The 38-year-old 's last major victory came at the 2008 U.S. Open but in a statement on his official website , he said he would not be competing at Pinehurst in North Carolina next month . `` Unfortunately , I wo n't be there because I 'm not yet physically able to play competitive golf , '' Woods said . `` I 'd like to convey my regrets to the USGA leadership , the volunteers and the fans that I wo n't be at Pinehurst . `` The U.S. Open is very important to me , and I know it 's going to be a great week . `` Despite missing the first two majors , and several other important tournaments , I remain very optimistic about this year and my future . '' Injury hampered Woods ' early months of the season and he has not competed on the PGA Tour since early March . This will be the sixth major championship he has skipped through injury , his absence at Augusta the first time he 'd missed The Masters since making his debut there as an amateur in 1995 . Stuck on 14 majors since 2008 , he will now have only two more chances this season to close in on Jack Nicklaus ' record haul of 18 . Despite being absent for several months Woods has only recently relinquished his world No . 1 ranking , to Australia 's Adam Scott .
Golf star Tiger Woods announces he will not play at the U.S. Open . World No . 3 is still recovering after undergoing back surgery in March . The last of Woods 14 major wins came at the U.S Open in 2008 . Woods : `` I wo n't be there because I'm too busy playing golf.'