Golf:Tiger Woods hopes to return to action next week after being told he has only a mild strain of his Achilles tendon. The former world number one pulled out of the Cadillac Championship in mid-round on Sunday, raising fears that he might miss next month's Masters for the first time in his career.

“Got good news from doc tonight,” said Woods on his Twitter site last night. “Only mild strain of left Achilles. Can resume hitting balls late in week and hopeful for next week.”

Woods has entered the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, intending to make it his final warm-up for the opening major of the year. Woods played 11 holes in three over par — and without a single birdie — and withdrew after hitting a drive down the long 12th at Doral. He had changed to softer shoes at the turn, but was visibly limping after he hit his second shot into the lake on the 10th.

Woods managed fourth place in The Masters last April despite injuring both his knee and his Achilles playing a shot from under a tree late in the third round. He tried to come back at the Players Championship a month later, but played nine holes in a six over par 42 and walked in.

Woods missed the US Open and Open Championship after that, not returning until August.