World number one Tiger Woods will not make his highly-anticipated return to golf at next week’s WGC Match Play Championship in Arizona (Phil Mickelson 9/2 favourite The Masters 2010 – Without Tiger Woods).

The shamed American superstar had until had until 2200 GMT on Friday to confirm his entry for the tournament but failed to do so and will continue his “indefinite break” from the sport.

Woods has not been since in public since lurid allegations about his private life emerged in November last year.

His absence, combined with that of world number three Phil Mickelson, means places in the 64-man field for Britain’s Chris Wood and Ross McGowan (Rory McIlroy 10/1 favourite The Open Championship 2010 – Without Tiger Woods).

Woods could now make his comeback in either the CA Championship in Miami (March 11-14) or the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando two weeks later – or the unofficial – and private – Tavistock Cup match on his home course Isleworth in Florida on March 22-23.