Golf: Tiger to skip British Open

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Associated Press
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. ó Those ěminorî injuries to his left leg now have kept Tiger Woods from playing in two majors.
In an announcement on his website Tuesday that came as no surprise, Woods said he would skip the British Open next week because his injuries have not fully healed.
ěUnfortunately, Iíve been advised that I should not play in the British Open,î Woods said. ěAs I stated at the AT&T National, I am only going to come back when Iím 100 percent ready. I do not want to risk further injury. Thatís different for me, but Iím being smarter this time. Iím very disappointed.î
It will be the second time in the last four years that Woods has missed two majors in one season. He did not play the British Open and PGA Championship in 2008 while recovering from reconstructive surgery on his left knee. These injuries are not as easy to describe.
Woods said in May that he suffered ěminor injuriesî to knee ligaments and his Achilles while hitting from an awkward stance in the pine straw on the 17th hole in the third round at the Masters. Afterward, he skipped the Wells Fargo Championship and withdrew after nine holes from The Players Championship a week later.
Woods said last week it was a mistake to go to The Players, and that had he waited, he would be playing golf right now.
ěIn hindsight, I probably shouldnít have competed at The Players, but itís a big event, and I wanted to be there to support the tour,î he said. ěIíve got to learn from what I did there and do it right this time and not come back until Iím ready.î
Woods didnít say whether he expected to play in the final major, the PGA Championship, which starts Aug. 11 at the Atlanta Athletic Club.