Tiger To Miss U.S. Open

Once upon a time, everything written about Tiger Woods pointed to what he would do. Breaking Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 wins in majors was an important one in that narrative.

Now, it’s all about what Tiger Woods cannot do. And that is play competitive golf.

On Tuesday, Woods, 40, announced he would not play in the U.S. Open next week at Oakmont, nor in the Quicken Loans tournament the week after that. His foundation sponsors the Quicken Loans event, and Woods said he would be there but not in a playing capacity.

“While I continue to work hard on getting healthy, I am not physically ready to play in this year’s U.S. Open and the Quicken Loans National,” Woods wrote on his website. “I am making progress, but I’m not yet ready for tournament competition.”

Woods hasn’t played in a PGA Tour event in nearly a year. He finished 10th in the Wyndham Championship last August and has continued ever since to battle back problems after a series of surgeries.

A three-time U.S. Open winner, Woods will miss the tournament for the third time in the last six years.

If he can come back, he will come back. If he will ever be the Tiger Woods we remember seems doubtful. And it’s hard to picture him as just another guy making the cut and finishing in a tie for 20th place.

Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman