Tiger Woods walks slowly after hitting on the seventh tee during the first round of The Players Championship golf tournament Thursday May 12, 2011 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Woods withdrew after nine holes because of leg injuries. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Tiger Woods won't be playing the U.S. Open this year.
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 Masters is now the only major he has never missed as a pro.
Woods said he strained ligaments in his left knee - the same one that has been operated on four times - 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 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.