This will be the second time in two years, however, that he missed a chunk of time between the Masters and the U.S. Open. He sat out nine weeks in 2006 to cope with the May death of his father, not returning until the U.S. Open at Winged Foot. He missed the cut for the only time in a major since he turned pro.
Torrey Pines is more familiar turf, even if the setup for the U.S. Open will be vastly different. Woods won the Buick Invitational this year for the third straight time, and he also won there as a junior.
In the meantime, his absence is a blow to the Wachovia Championship and to The Players Championship, regarded as the fifth major.
``Of course, we're disappointed when Tiger is unable to compete in a PGA Tour event,'' commissioner Tim Finchem said on the tour's Web site. ``There is really never a good time for an athlete - especially one of Tiger's caliber - to take weeks off from competition during the season. But his health concerns have to come first.''
Of greater concern might be the fact Woods has gone through surgery twice on the same knee in five years. He has looked immortal at times on the golf course, already winning 64 times on the PGA Tour and 13 majors, second only to Jack Nicklaus.
Could this slow the pursuit?
Woods won 30 times and five majors since his last surgery, and Haney expects nothing less.
``This is something he's already used to,'' Haney said. ``He deals with stuff incredibly, like you would expect him to.''
