( CNN ) Tiger Woods ' season took a turn for the worse when he was forced to withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines just 11 holes into his first round on Thursday . A 14-times major tournament winner , Woods pulled out of the San Diego event when back spasms became such a problem that playing partner Billy Horschel had to pick up his tee for him on several occasions . The struggling 39-year-old was making his second PGA start of 2015 and had been on two over par when forced out of the event . Last year , Woods underwent surgery on a pinched nerve . His first start , at the Waste Management Phoenix Open last week , saw him chalk up the worst score of his professional life in the 1,267th round of his career . Former world No.1 Woods -- now at 56 in the standings -- recorded an 11-over-par 82 at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona . That meant he missed the cut , finishing bottom of a field of 132 as his short game fell apart and he racked up six bogeys , two double bogeys , a triple bogey and two birdies . The PGA tour website quoted him as saying that a delay to the start of his round in San Diego , caused by foggy weather , had been behind the back problems that forced him out . `` My glutes are shutting off , '' explained Woods . `` Then they do n't activate and then , hence , it [ pain ] goes into my lower back . `` I tried to activate my glutes as best I could , in between , but they never stayed activated . `` I had a good warm-up session [ before the weather delay ] , but then we stood out here , I got cold and everything started deactivating again . `` It 's frustrating that I just ca n't stay activated . That 's just kind of the way it is . '' Horschel said he had become aware of Woods ' increasing discomfort as the round progressed , adding : `` If I did n't see it on 10 , I saw it on 11 . Then I asked him when I walked off the 12th tee : 'Back hurting you again ? ' He said : 'Spasms . ' '' What happened in San Diego will inevitably raise questions about where Woods goes from here as one of the game 's all-time greats battles for full fitness and form . Horschel expressed his sympathy , saying : `` It 's unfortunate , because I consider him a friend and I want to see him get back to his level of play that we all know he can . `` If he can just stay healthy and be able to work on it , I think we would see the results . '' In November , Woods -- who has not won a major since 2008 -- was in the spotlight for his angry response to a parody interview by veteran Golf Digest writer Dan Jenkins . The second golf course created by his design business is due to open at Bluejack National , Texas , later this year . In an exclusive interview , he told CNN : `` My goal is to design a limited number of distinct and memorable golf courses . ''
Former World No.1 blames weather conditions for injury . He was 3 over par when forced out after 11 holes in San Diego . Tournament was his second PGA event of 2015 after 2014 back surgery . Setback follows worst injury of his professional career last season .