Tiger Woods has announced that he will be giving a miss to next week’s US Open at Oakmont, the second major of the season where the former world No1 will be absent.
Woods, who has won the US Open three times and with 14 majors to his name, the last of them in 2008, is exempt from qualifying and registered for his national Open seven weeks ago – “simply procedural,” said his agent Mark Steinberg – after two separate back surgeries since he last played tournament golf in August.
“While I continue to work hard on getting healthy, I am not physically ready to play in this year’s US Open and the Quicken Loans National,” Woods told his website. “I am making progress, but I’m not yet ready for tournament competition.
“I want to thank everyone for their continued support. The positive texts, emails and calls I have received have been incredible. I want to wish Mike Davis, Diana Murphy, the USGA, the players and everyone at Oakmont a very successful week.
“I will be hosting and attending my foundation’s tournament, the Quicken Loans National, at Congressional. It’s the 10th year of our tournament, and we continue to support the community, the military and the programs of the Tiger Woods Foundation.”
