“I am both honored and humbled,” Woods, a 15-times major winner, said in a statement on Wednesday after receiving the necessary 75 per cent of support from the body’s voting panel.

“This achievement is the ultimate recognition to never give up and keep chasing.”

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan paid tribute to the 44-year-old Woods.

Woods is missing from the Players Championship starting in Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida on Thursday due to a back issue.

“Tiger has done more for the game of golf than anyone ever thought possible, and his historic feats on the course are only one aspect of his impact,” said Monahan.

“His imprint on the game is immeasurable, and his unparalleled legacy is one we look forward to celebrating as he’s inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame next year.”

Woods’s 15 major championships are second only to the 18 captured by Jack Nicklaus.

Woods also has 82 official PGA Tour victories (which include the 15 majors), tied for the all-time record with Sam Snead.

The Hall of Fame recently lowered the age of qualification to 45.

Woods turns 45 on Dec. 30.

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The 43-year-old Woods had acknowledged that his back was stiff on the eve of the first event of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup playoffs which had limited his ability to practise.

The 15-times major champion struggled to compete in the first round and carded a four-over-par 75 which left him 13 strokes behind American leader Troy Merritt.

“I went for treatment early Friday morning, but unfortunately I’m still unable to compete,” Woods was quoted as saying by the PGA Tour.

“I’d like to thank the New Jersey and New York fans for their support and remain hopeful I can compete next week at the BMW Championship.”

The American’s withdrawal means Woods will have to wait longer to tie Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour victories.

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This was after failing to make the cut at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

The 15-times major champion carded a one-under 70 but it failed to repair the damage of Thursday when he struggled with back pain and shot an ugly 78.

Woods, who won the last of his three British Opens in 2006, made four birdies in his first 11 holes.

It made him to look to be in with a shout of surviving until the weekend.

He birdied the first and the smile returned as he rolled in another at the sixth.

A bogey at the seventh halted his momentum but he birdied 10 and 11 to get the fans roaring.

It was always a long shot though, with the cut expected to be at around one over.

And, as the rain closed in, so did Woods’ hopes vanish with bogeys at the 17th and 18th.

Great rival Phil Mickelson is also in danger of missing the cut.

If he does, it would be the first time in the 83 majors in which they have both competed that both missed the weekend.

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But then, Thursday’s opening round of the British Open was a reality check.

The 15-times major champion never looked comfortable as he shot a seven-over 78 at Royal Portrush and he admitted he was feeling sore.

“I’m just not moving as well as I’d like. And unfortunately, you’ve got to be able to move, and especially under these conditions, shape the golf ball. And I didn’t do it.

“I didn’t shape the golf ball at all. Everything was left-to-right. And wasn’t hitting very solidly,” Woods told reporters.

The 43-year-old American, who has battled a number of injuries in recent years, made no attempt to hide his fear that age was catching up with him.

“Just the way it is. Just Father Time and some procedures I’ve had over the time. Just the way it’s going to be,” he said.

“As I said, one of the reasons why I’m playing less tournaments this year is that I can hopefully prolong my career, and be out here for a little bit longer,” he added.

Woods has played only 10 competitive rounds since winning the Masters in April and his last tournament start was at the U.S Open.

He has gone 32 days without competitive golf and he took two weeks off after the U.S. Open to go on a family holiday in Thailand.

Woods said he deals regularly with pain but that the standards expected on a links course at a major give him little room for error.

“If I am at home and have school pick-up and football practices, I’m a lot more sore than I am now. But playing at this elite level is a completely different deal.

“You’ve got to be spot on. These guys are too good. There are too many guys that are playing well and I’m just not one of them,” he said.

The three-times British Open winner was once known for his relentless approach to practice and physical fitness but he said those days are long gone.

“It’s going to be a lot more difficult. I’m not 24 anymore. Life changes, life moves on. And I can’t devote, as I’ve told you this many times, I can’t devote the hours to practice like I used to.

“Standing on the range, hitting balls for four or five hours, go play 36, come back, run four or five miles and then go to the gym. Those days are gone. Okay?”

“I have to be realistic about my expectations and, hopefully, peaking at the right time. I peaked at Augusta well. And, hopefully, I can peak a few more times this year,” he said.

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Woods led throughout the final round and finished at 11-under-par 269 at East Lake, where he carded a closing 71 for his 80th PGA Tour victory.

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