Tiger Woods’ absence is getting players worry because of

Tiger Woods’ absence is hanging over Players Championship: ‘Heartbeat of golf’

There’s as much talk about Woods not playing the Players Championship this week at TPC Sawgrass as there is about the stars who are here — beginning with defending-champion Scottie Scheffler, who’s fresh off his second Arnold Palmer Invitational victory in the past three years.

Woods was widely expected to be in the field this week. That would follow the natural progression of his stated plan, which was to play one tournament a month, including the major championships.

Woods was forced to withdraw from the Genesis Invitational last month at Riviera with a bout of what he called the flu, being driven off the course in the middle of his second round.

He was well enough to play in the annual prestigious Seminole pro-member nine days ago — paired with PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh and striking the ball extremely well, according to a report by Brad Faxon, who was also in the field.

Yet, when the deadline came and went Friday for the Players Championship field, Woods’ name was nowhere to be found.

And we have heard nothing from him one way or another — not that he owes anyone an explanation.

It is, however, unconventional for him to head into next month’s Masters (assuming he’s going to play that, because with Woods you never know) having played less than a round and a half of tournament golf.