Tiger Woods Out of the Open

Area Tiger Woods fans won’t be able to follow him at Congressional when the U.S. Open comes to town this month. He won’t be playing.

Injuries to his left knee and Achilles are bad enough that Woods decided Tuesday to skip the U.S. Open for the first time since 1994, the Associated Press reported. The Masters is now the only major he has never missed as a pro.

"I am extremely disappointed that I won't be playing in the U.S. Open, but it's time for me to listen to my doctors and focus on the future," Woods said. "I was hopeful that I could play, but if I did, I risk further damage to my left leg. My knee and Achilles tendon are not fully healed. I hope to be ready for AT&T National, the next two majors and the rest of the year."

Woods said he sprained a ligament in his left knee -- the same one that has been operated on four times –- and suffered a mild Achilles tendon strain hitting a shot out of the pine straw in the third round of the Masters. He described it then as a “minor injury,” although it is clearly much more. He also skipped the Wells Fargo Championship, and he said two weeks ago it might have been a mistake to play in The Players Championship, where he had to withdraw after nine holes.

There is no indication when Woods will return.