Family first: Woods' next start Down Under

• By Ryan Ballengee
• Oct 9, 2011 7:38 PM ET

SAN MARTIN, Calif. – With a final birdie at the par-5 ninth hole to close out the Frys.com Open, Tiger Woods wrapped up his 2011 season on the PGA Tour.

Woods said his next start will come at the Australian Open in November, unable to compete at Walt Disney World – like at Greensboro – because he will be spending time with his children.

"I can't. I got family obligations," Woods said after shooting his third straight 3 under 68 at CordeValle.

The world No. 51 ends his season after nine PGA Tour events (he also competed in the Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour) and earning, the lowest season total for Woods in his professional career. Woods finished just seven events, having pulled out of the Players after nine holes and a re-aggravated left knee and Achilles which he injured at Augusta National. He missed the cut at the PGA Championship.

Woods has played just ten rounds of competitive golf since his front nine charge at the Masters. At the onset of the week, Woods said he felt his game would be in good shape again after a three-week stretch with that many rounds. 

Having ended his 12-year relationship with Steve Williams in July, Joe LaCava is his new bagman going into the autumn months and next season.

Arjun Atwal, Woods' friend and Sunday playing partner at CordeValle, said he saw enough from Woods to suggest he is turning the corner.

"If he keeps playing, everything else will get sorted out," he said. 

Atwal said he believes his peers agree that a fine-tuned Woods is important for the game.

"We need him to play well, I think. Most players agree with me and they want to see him play well."