Tiger injury forces US Open withdrawal

Tiger Woods will be a notable absentee when the US Open kicks off at Congressional Country Club, Maryland next week.

Former world number one Woods – a three-time US Open champion – has withdrawn from the season’s second major tournament citing ongoing injury problems with his troublesome left knee and Achilles’ tendon injuries suffered during his third round at the US Masters in April.

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Woods’ injury forces Wells Fargo withdrawal

Tiger Woods won’t be competing in the upcoming Wells Fargo Championship on the PGA Tour next month due to injury he sustained at the US Masters.

The event, to be held at Quail Hollow, takes place next week and sees Rory McIlroy defend his title but Woods confirmed on his website, www.tigerwoods.com that he won’t be playing.

Woods sprained both the collateral ligament in his left knee and also his left Achilles tendon while playing the 17th hole in the third round of the Masters, so it was perhaps to his credit that he was able to mount such a challenge on the final day.

But the 35-year old former world number one has been advised by doctors to rest the injury, rather than compete.

A statement on Woods’ website read:

“I personally contacted tournament officials and expressed my regret in not being able to play. This is an outstanding event, but I must follow doctors’ orders to get better.”

Woods is no stranger to knee trouble, and has undergone four surgeries in the past for injuries to his knee. This latest injury might mean further tinkering with his swing alongside his current coach Sean Foley in an attempt to try to lessen the impact of Woods’ swing on his body.

The in injury could also put his appearance at the Players Championship on May 12-15 at TPC Sawgrass in jeopardy if it doesn’t sufficiently heal in time.

Ogilvy doubt for Tournament of Champions title defence

Geoff Ogilvy’s defence of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions this week has been thrown into doubt, after the Australian suffered an injury to a finger following a beach accident in Hawaii.

Ogilvy, 33, injured his right index finger after slipping as he emerged from the seas on the Hawaiian island of Maui and the injury was severe enough to require 12 stitches. It also forced the defending champion to withdraw from Wednesday’s Pro-Am event.

Ogilvy’s manager, Paul Galli described the accident as a freak.

“It was a freak thing. He was paddling away, getting out of the water, and he slipped and tripped up in some shallow water on the reefs.
“He didn’t think anything had happened at the time but then he noticed the finger was bleeding.”

Ogilvy will make his decision on whether to take part after warming up ahead of the opening round on Thurdsday. He will be seeking a third successive win in the event, and is due to tee off at 1300hrs local time (11pm GMT).

“If he can make a proper swing without any compromises he will play, but he’s not going to make any compensation,” Galli added. “He doesn’t want to do that. Guys who’ve done that before have had long-term issues.”

Ogilvy also featured as the top pick in our betting preview for the event.

Westwood a major doubt for Ryder Cup

Lee Westwood is a major doubt to take his place in the European Ryder Cup squad, after the Worksop player was forced to withdraw from the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club and also next week’s US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

Westwood withdrew from Firestone following a second round 76 and revealed afterwards that his worsening calf injury would force him to also sit out the season’s final Major tournament. Westwood has been struggling with injury since the eve of the French Open where he suffered a ruptured plantaris muscle, and contested the Open Championship at St. Andrews where he battled to second place behind Louis Oosthuizen three weeks ago.

Westwood however hasn’t played since, electing to rest the injury instead but it clearly hasn’t been enough to safeguard his place in the US PGA and now casts a major doubt over his participation at The Celtic Manor Resort in October.

“I will be out for as long as it takes to get better,” said Westwood. “I am just hoping that it will be in time for me to play in the Ryder Cup.”

Westwood’s injury echoes that of Paul Casey last year, who was forced to withdraw from the WGC Bridgestone Invitational due to a rib injury which eventually kept him out of the game for three months. At the time Casey was the world number 3 ranked player – the same position Westwood occupies currently.

Kim and Toms pull out of Open Championship

American player David Toms has been forced to withdraw from next week’s Open Championship after succumbing to a long standing injury. Rather than tackle the famous Old Course at St. Andrews, Toms has elected instead to rest an ailing right shoulder.

Toms has been playing in recent weeks with a bone spur in his rotator cuff and had tried to get by without surgery. However, Toms admitted defeat after contesting the AT&T National – his fourth straight tournament – and will now take some time out from competitive golf . Toms’ agent, Adam Young, said the player wanted to wait as long as possible to see how he was feeling, but not so long that it affected the travel of whoever replaced him.

Also joining Toms on the Open Championship sidelines is fellow American Anthony Kim who formally pulled out from the tournament to concentrate on his recovery from thumb surgery. Kim underwent surgery to his injured thumb in May and was never in serious contention to play the Open.

Instead, he hopes to return for the Canadian Open, which will be played on the week following the Open Championship.

The Royal & Ancient has announced that Toms and Kim will be replaced in the Open Championship lineup by Americans Ricky Barnes and Davis Love III.

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