Tiger Woods will miss the U.S. Open for the first time since 1994 after retiring from the tournament next week in Congress because of knee injuries and Achilles tendon.
The 35-year U.S. has had longstanding problems with both and they broke again as he tried to play a shot from a difficult position at the Masters in April. He came back too early Players Championship four weeks ago and retired after just nine holes.
In a statement on his website, Woods said: "I am extremely disappointed I will not play at the U.S. Open but it is time for me to listen to my doctors and focus on the future.
"This is all the frustration about the short term for long-term gains. The doctors told me if I played, I risk damage to the rest of my left leg. "
Woods can afford more risk. He has had four operations on his left knee, while a strict regime of running every day played havoc with his Achilles tendon.
Defending champion Graeme McDowell, Northern Ireland, said last night: "Golf needs Tiger Woods and we have to play him again, but his physical health is now a big question.
"Not having Tiger on the field is a blow to the tournament, but it's always a massive event with a tremendous quality in this area."
Woods remains hopeful this latest setback will result in nothing like the break of nine months he had taken in 2008 when he tore a ligament in his left knee on the way to victory at the U.S. Open.
This time, there will be no miracle victory on one leg because he was at Torrey Pines this year, but he is hopeful of being fit to play outdoors on next month's Royal St George's.
"I hope to be ready for AT & T National (as of June 30), the next two majors and the rest of the year," he said.
Now 15th in the world and likely to be outside the top 20 when he returned, once nearinvincible Woods said: "It was a difficult year and frustrating."
Woods has yet to win a tournament since many cases were revealed in November 2009. Now not only do most of its blue-chip sponsors abandoned him, it seems that his body too.
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