Woods a doubt for Masters defence

Woods is a 10-time major winner

Tiger Woods could miss next month's Masters in order to spend time with his father, who is suffering with cancer.

The defending champion visited Earl Woods in California on Wednesday, rather than practising for the Players Championship at Sawgrass.

Woods said: "There's a chance I might not play for a while. It all depends on how my father is doing."

Asked if he could miss the Masters, he added: "You never know. When your parents aren't doing well, it's tough."

Love & Furyk share Sawgrass lead

The world number one fired an opening round of 72 at Sawgrass and is seven shots behind leaders Davis Love and Jim Furyk.

And Woods said that the best fillip for his father at Sawgrass would be to see his son launching a title bid.

"He needs something to look forward to each day." said the 10-time major winner. "So hopefully I will get on TV and hit some good shots.

"He was not feeling well and I needed to go and see him and turn his spirits around."

Woods said he drew solace from partnering Ulsterman Darren Clarke, whose wife also has cancer, in the first round at Sawgrass.

"It was probably the best thing. Everyone knows Darren is kind of struggling with the same thing. We were talking about it all day."

The Masters, the first major of the year, starts on 6 April and Woods would be gunning for his fifth title in the 70th running of the event.