Tiger Woods pulls out of US Open

Tiger Woods has pulled out of next month’s US Open to continue his rehabilitation from back surgery, the American announced on Wednesday. Last week Woods, 38, indicated that he would miss out on Pinehurst, from June 12-15, when he admitted that his recovery from his March 31 operation was ‘slow and tedious’.

The golfing champion underwent surgery for a pinched nerve in his back eight weeks ago and has not competed since the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship on March 9.

The surgery meant that Woods missed the Masters for the first time in his career.

However, the golfer has, because of surgery and recovery periods, missed other key tournaments in the past.

In 2008, following knee surgery, Woods missed the Open and PGA Championships.

The golfer announced on www.tigerwoods.com: ‘Unfortunately, I won’t be there because I’m not yet physically able to play competitive golf.

‘I’d like to convey my regrets to the USGA leadership, the volunteers and the fans that I won’t be at Pinehurst.’

Talking after his operation Woods said: ‘The only doubts I had were prior to the surgery. I couldn’t function any more. 

‘I’ve had knee surgeries in the past and, yeah, I was hurting going into it, but I was functioning. Right before this surgery I couldn’t do much. Forget about playing golf at the highest level – I couldn’t get out of bed.

‘I was certainly doubtful at that point. Am I going to be pain-free? Am I actually going to be able to do this again where I can get out of bed and play with my kids and play golf?

‘But after I had the procedure it was immediate relief and just a matter of getting through that pain part. But it wasn’t the shocking or debilitating pain – it was just pain from the surgery, the incision.’