Now it's the left Achilles tendon's turn to withstand the scrutiny.

Last year, Tiger Woods' left knee shared attention as golf's Most Worrisome Body Part. A year earlier, it was the neck. And before that … OK, that part wasn't exactly injured. TaylorMade RocketBallz Fairway Woods

The upshot is that all too often, something seems to be on the mend.

Has this become Woods' new normal? While golf fans have been watching to see whether Woods' revamped swing will hold up under Sunday pressure, it's his body that now has problems holding up.

Woods' early departure Sunday from the WGC-Cadillac Championship marked the third time in as many years he has had to withdraw before the finish line because of injury. If he has to take himself out of the field for next week's Arnold Palmer Invitational, it would mark the sixth straight year hisTaylorMade RocketBallz Fairway Woods

contains an unplanned gap.

Remember, the same tendon was central to Woods missing the better part of four months in the heart of last season. That included two majors — events in which he has been known to be undeterred by a doctor's recommendation.

Maybe this one is minor. That's the impression he gave late Monday when he disclosed to Twitter followers that he was told it's a minor strain. A few days of rest and ice, and he might be hitting balls again with his TaylorMade RocketBallz Fairway Woods
this weekend.

Then again, maybe not.