It’s official – Tiger Woods will not tee-up in the up-coming U.S. Open at Pinehurst.
It now means the first and second place finishers from the 2005 U.S. Open, and the last time the championship was staged at Pinehurst No. 2, will be absent after New Zealand’s Michael Campbell withdrew some weeks ago due to the breakdown in his marriage.
Of course, Woods is still recovering from back surgery that has side-lined him for well over two months.
It will be the second U.S. Open, and sixth major, he has missed because of injury over the last six years.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be there because I’m not yet physically able to play competitive golf,” said Woods on www.tigerwoods.com
Tiger Woods admires the U.S. Open trophy – his last Major success in 2008 at Torrey Pines.
“I’d like to convey my regrets to the USGA leadership, the volunteers and the fans that I won’t be at Pinehurst. The U.S. Open is very important to me, and I know it’s going to be a great week.”
Woods was last seen on a golf course on Sunday March 9th on the final day of the WGC- Cadillac Championship at Doral, where he closed with a 78 while suffering what he called back spasms.
He had withdrawn mid-round a week earlier from the Honda Classic.
Woods is a three-time U.S. Open champion, one short of the record shared by Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones and Willie Anderson. His most recent U.S. Open victory was in 2008 at Torrey Pines, where he won in a playoff over Rocco Mediate a week before he had season-ending knee surgery.
That was his 14th victory in 46 majors, a winning rate of 30 percent as a pro. He has not won a major since Torrey Pines, leaving him four short of Nicklaus’ record.
Woods missed the British Open and PGA Championship after knee surgery in 2008. He missed the U.S. Open and British Open while allowing leg injuries to heal in 2011. He missed the Masters for the first time in April because of back surgery.
Nicklaus said earlier Wednesday that Woods’ health would be the biggest obstacle in breaking his record in the majors. Woods called Nicklaus earlier Wednesday to express regrets about missing the Memorial, and Nicklaus said that Woods indicated he was making progress.
“If he’s healthy, I think Tiger has got 10-plus years to play top quality tournament golf,” Nicklaus said. “And I’ve said many times, he’s got a little over 40 tournaments to play the major championships; he’s only got to win five to pass my record. As good a player as he is, I don’t think that should be a big deal. But then again, he’s got to do it. Plus, he’s also got to be healthy to be able to do it.”
Woods has not indicated when he might be able to return to competition, saying that would be up to his doctors and how he recovers from the surgery.
“Despite missing the first two majors, and several other important tournaments, I remain very optimistic about this year and my future,” he said.
