Golf: Hurting Tiger pulls out of US Open

BETHESDA:

Former world number one Tiger Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the all-time record of 18 won by Jack Nicklaus, said he will not play in next week’s US Open golf tournament.

Woods suffered a sprained left knee and strained left Achilles tendon in the third round of the Masters in April and withdrew in pain from last month’s US PGA Players Championship after completing only nine holes.

The injuries have prevented Woods from putting in the practice time he needs to properly prepare for the US Open.

Woods, a three-time US Open champion, has not missed the US Open since 1994, when he had just completed high school.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2011.