Hopes that Tiger Woods would be fit enough to take his place at the Open Championship next week were dashed last night when the former world No 1 announced that he was pulling out because of injury.
Woods, three times a winner of the Open, has succumbed to problems with his left knee — on which he has had four operations during his career — and an Achilles tendon strain.
He has been sidelined since pulling out of The Players Championship after only nine holes in May and will not play again until he has recovered fully.
“Unfortunately, I’ve been advised that I should not play in the British Open,” Woods said on his website.
“As I stated at the AT&T National [the tournament he helps to promote], I am only going to come back when I’m 100 per cent ready. I do not want to risk further injury.”
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Woods, who underwent reconstructive knee surgery in 2008, the week after winning the US Open at Torrey Pines on one good leg, had been limping for much of the season and injured himself again when his left leg slipped on pine straw at the Masters in April.
Woods took some time off after finishing tied for fourth at Augusta, but now feels he returned too soon and suffered the consequences.
“I’m being smarter this time,” he said. “In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have competed at The Players, but it’s a big event and I wanted to be there to support the tour.
“I’ve got to learn from what I did there and do it right this time and not come back until I’m ready. I think my best years are still ahead of me and I’m very confident and optimistic about the future.”
Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the R&A, the organisers of the Open, said: “I know how disappointed Tiger is not to be able to play in The Open this year.
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“Naturally, we are sorry that a player of his calibre isn’t able to join us at Royal St George’s, but we wish him well in his recovery and hope to see him back soon, competing in front of the fans who love to see him play.”
Woods, who has fallen to No 17 in the world and is likely soon to be outside the top 20, will be greatly missed.
His quest to break Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major championships (he has won 14) has once again been put on hold, but, at 35, he would argue that time is still on his side. Much, though, depends on the extent of the injuries. They are worryingly frequent.
In truth, few people within the game expected him to be ready in time for a second visit to the Kent coastline. In 2003, he lost his ball with his first shot of the championship and went on to finish only two strokes adrift of Ben Curtis, the surprise winner.
Woods will be replaced by Jason Dufner, his fellow American, Brendan Jones, of Australia, having turned down the chance to play because his wife is expecting.