Woods pulls out of season-ending Tour Championship

MIAMI, Oct 28 (Reuters) Tiger Woods says he will not play in next week's season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta.

Woods, winner of eight events this season including his last six starts, said on his Web site he was mentally and physically exhausted and needed time to ''recharge'' his batteries.

''Playing seven out of nine weeks with an additional trip to Ireland for Ryder Cup practice was taxing both mentally and physically and I feel like I need another week away from competitive golf,'' Woods said.

''I'm confident that this extended break will help me to recharge my batteries for the 2007 season.'' Woods withdrawal leaves the Tour Championship without two of the world's top three ranked players, number three Phil Mickelson having early confirmed that he will not take part in the invitation-only event.

The Tour Championship is limited to the top 30 players on the PGA Tour's money list.

The world number one, however, does have several events remaining on his 2006 calendar, including the HSBC Champions Tournament, Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, PGA Grand Slam of Golf, and Target World Challenge.

Woods romped to victory by eight strokes to win his last event -- the WGC American Express Championship in England.

Reuters DKS VP0442