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At some point, we have to be honest about just how bad things are for Tiger Woods. Maybe now is that time. On Wednesday, I opined about his career and his future, and now his agent Mark Steinberg is delivering more bad news.

“He flew out here (to California) and got to see one of his doctors,” Steinberg told the Associated Press. “Based on the work they did the last couple of days, they advised he just stay horizontal. It’s best to listen to the doctors. The ultimate goal is to get out and play.”

They advised he just stay horizontal does not sound very good. In fact, it sounds quite bad for someone who has had three back surgeries in the last three years. 

Then there was this sourced nugget from Chris Solomon at No Laying Up.

So maybe this is simply back spasms like Steinberg has been saying for two weeks, but maybe it is something far more nefarious. It sure sounds like it. 

“The goal is to get everything to calm down, have it calm down for a while, continue to get treatment and get back to a place where he’s chipping and putting and hitting balls,” Steinberg continued to the AP. “We’re not talking about an extended break.”

Except it kind of feels like we are. From “stay horizontal” to “play 72 holes” in the span of a few weeks? I guess it depends on how you define “extended.”

Maybe Woods won’t be able to play the rest of the year. Based on Steinberg’s words, I have to think this is a legitimate concern. Or maybe he’ll contend at the Masters. Nobody actually knows. And we might not get a real grip for a few weeks how all of this will shake out, but the hits keep on coming for the 14-time major winner.