US Open champion Justin Rose has withdrawn from the Honda Classic at PGA National in Florida - which begins today - because of tendonitis in his right shoulder.

Six of the world's top eight players, including world number one Tiger Woods and number two Adam Scott, are set to tee off for the four-day tournament.

Scott is returning from a six-week break while Woods has not played since the Dubai Desert Classic four weeks ago.

But 33-year-old Rose hasn't been able to shake off his shoulder problems.

The world number six originally hurt his shoulder last August and a statement released by his management said that his "rehabilitation continues" and he needed time off because "scheduling four straight weeks of competition was an aggressive start to the season."

However, he still is hopeful of making next week's World Golf Championships at Doral, which he won last season.

This year's PGA National-based tournament will be the eighth at the Tom and George Fazio-designed layout that was given its most recent facelift by Jack Nicklaus in 2002.

The 7,110-yard par 70 course is best known for the tough three-hole stretch from holes 15-17, known as the Bear Trap.

Ahead of last year's event, which was won by Michael Thompson, the Bear Trap had accounted for 24 per cent of all bogeys, 56 per cent of all double bogeys and 74 per cent of all triple bogeys since 2007, highlighting the struggles players encounter on the back stretch.

Rory McIlroy goes into the week as the bookie's favourite but he'll need to perform with more gusto than last year when he stormed off the course after losing shots at alarming rates in round two.

However, his mind and game seem in a far better nick this season after playing briiliantly when finishing second in Abu Dhabi and a ninth in the Dubai Desert Classic.

Other leading contenders include Charl Schwartzel and Graeme McDowell, who said: "I've always enjoyed this golf course. I think it rewards accuracy off the tee."