Maryland: Tiger Woods gave the strongest indication yet that he might not return to competition this year, saying that he needed to be patient during his recovery from back surgeries.

The former world No. 1 has not played on the PGA Tour since undergoing microdiscectomy back surgery last September and at the age of 40, has decided not to rush his comeback.

“I am playing… It’s just that I need more time,” Woods said during Sunday’s final round of the Quicken Loans National in Bethesda. 

“I still need to get stronger. I need to recover faster and my recovery will take time.

“I’m not a real patient person when it comes to pushing through some of my injuries, pushing through some of my rehab. I’ve come back and won... But this one’s different.

“This one, I’m older, it takes a little longer to recover and to heal and I’m going to do it right so that I don’t have another surgery.” Woods, who made just 11 starts on the PGA Tour last season and only seven the season before, had his first back surgery in early 2014.