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Former world number one Woods – a three-time US Open champion – has withdrawn from the season’s second major tournament citing ongoing injury problems with his troublesome left knee and Achilles’ tendon injuries suffered during his third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.
Since then, Woods has managed only 9 holes of competitive golf – which resulted in an ugly outward nine of 42 at the Players Championship four weeks ago before he withdrew from the tournament.
“I am extremely disappointed that I won’t be playing in the US Open, but it’s time for me to listen to my doctors and focus on the future,’’ Woods said on his website. “I was hopeful that I could play, but if I did, I risk further damage to my left leg.’’
Woods also tweeted the bad news to his followers, saying: “Not playing in US Open. Very disappointed. Short-term frustration for long-term gain.”
Woods famously won the last of his three US Open titles three years ago when he was suffering from a ligament tear and stress fracture in his left leg, beating Rocco Mediate in a playoff at Torrey Pines. That win was the last in his current haul of 14 major titles.
But his withdrawal from the latest renewal of the event will be the first time he has missed the US Open since 1994, when he had just graduated high school.
“We’re very disappointed that he won’t be playing in the National Open,” said USGA Executive Director Mike Davis, whom Woods called Tuesday morning to inform him of his withdrawal from the event.
“He certainly brings excitement to the event. He’ll be missed, but the U.S. Open will go on. The event is bigger than one player, but he certainly will be missed.”
Woods has a long history of left-knee problems and has undergone four surgeries to repair his knee; the most recent coming in the wake of that 2008 US Open win. That led to eight months out of the game following reconstructive surgery, but he returned as good as ever the following season to win seven times before his personal life became front page news across the world – the after-effects of which still seem to haunt the former world number one.
With the US Open now no longer on the agenda, Woods has set a return target for the AT&T National – a tournament he hosts and that benefits his charitable foundation, and takes place two weeks before the Open Championship at Royal St. Georges.
