Tiger Woods 'stir crazy'
2008-04-26 08:29
Los Angeles - Ten days after his knee
operation, Tiger Woods was yearning to return to the PGA Tour
without having a clear idea of his next event.
The world number one expected to be sidelined for between
four and six weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his left
knee in Park City, Utah on April 15.
"I'm a little stir crazy," Woods said in his monthly
newsletter on Friday. "Although I've been through this before
and understand the need for patience, I don't enjoy sitting
around.
"I really don't have a timetable for returning to
competition. The doctors have said I should be able to play
again in four to six weeks but nothing is certain. I'm just
going to do what they tell me to do."
Woods will not defend his title at next week's Wachovia
Championship and also misses the prestigious Players
Championship the following week for the first time in his
career.
He had been hoping to play in the Memorial tournament
starting on May 29 but his main focus is on the June 12-15 US
Open at Torrey Pines in California where he will seek his 14th
major title.
Knee back
"At least I'm done with the crutches," said the 32-year-old
American. "I'm wearing a knee brace and hope to start
rehabilitating soon.
"I knew a couple of months ago I was going to have the
surgery. The knee has been bugging me for a while.
"The only decision was do you miss the US Masters or play.
I decided to play. Even if I had won I still would have had
surgery."
Woods, who has had two previous operations on his left knee,
underwent his third surgery two days after finishing second at
this month's Masters.
"I've definitely been playing in pain but that's not why I
didn't win at Augusta," he added. "I just never got comfortable
with my putting stroke."
Woods, a four-times champion at Augusta National, finished
three shots behind South African Trevor Immelman who clinched
his first major win.
"I called Trevor Immelman a couple of days later to
congratulate him," Woods said. "He was on the TV circuit so I
didn't actually talk to him but I left a voice message.
"Nobody has ever doubted his ability. He has a beautiful
golf swing and it was only a matter of time before he put it all
together at a major championship."