Woods withdraws from US Open

ROCH (News Wires) — Tiger Woods will not compete in next month’s US Open while he recovers from recent surgery, the major tournament’s organisers said.

The 15-times major winner withdrew from the Masters midway through the tournament due to injury and had fusion surgery on a bone in his ankle last month to address post-traumatic arthritis from a previous talus bone fracture.

Woods did not participate in this month’s PGA Championship, the year’s second major.

The 47-year-old has kept a limited competition schedule after a 2021 car crash that required his leg to be rebuilt.

He made a comeback at this year’s Genesis Invitational in February, before returning to Augsta National at the Masters last month.

His week in Georgia proved to be a difficult one though, as Woods battled his way around the treacherous course in tricky conditions.

It was later confirmed that he had suffered an ankle injury and had undergone surgery on this issue.

This therefore put the rest of his season in jeopardy, and the inevitable decision to not play in next month’s major has now been confirmed by the USGA.

Woods had originally confirmed he would be playing in all four majors, but has since pulled out of last week’s PGA Championship and the upcoming US Open.

Amid Woods’ sturggles, his 15-time major champion’s long-time caddie Joe LaCava officially split from the golfing great earlier this month.

As a result LaCava teamed up with Cantlay at the Wells Fargo Championship, with the move a permanent one.

Woods reportedly gave the caddie his blessing, telling LaCava: “You’d be crazy not to take the job. Go for it. Go win some tournaments and have a great time.” And this was also backed up by fellow Tour pro and close friend Justin Thomas, who added: “There’s so many guys out here that would have him caddie in an instant.

“When he was loyal to Tiger and Tiger’s probably telling him go caddie, go do whatever… that’s just not the kind of guy Joe is.

“There’s so many guys out here that would have him caddie in an instant. When he was loyal to Tiger and Tiger’s probably telling him go caddie, go do whatever… that’s just not the kind of guy Joe is.”

Of course, Woods is still trying to chase down Jack Nicklaus’s 18 major tournament wins. He has 15 for his career, with the most recent coming at the 2019 Masters.

The fourth and final major of the year will be the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool from July 20-23. With Woods seemingly trying to play in just majors as his career dwindles down, that would be the next opportunity to do so.

Matt Fitzpatrick will be defending his only major title of his young career in LA, as he secured the US Open last year. He shot six-under-par, which was one shot ahead of Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris.