Woods expects to play in US Open

Tiger Woods says he'll be ready to go for the U.S. Open. Good thing for Woods there's time to get healthy. The golfing great hasn't hit a ball in about two weeks. Woods needs crutches and a walking boot for relief on his aching left leg. He won't even start leg training until the end of next week. But Woods expects to tee off at the U.S. Open June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. "You just play through these things," Woods said. "There's a difference between being in pain and being injured." That's why Woods has shut himself down to prepare for the major.

Woods is bothered by pain in his left knee, left Achilles' tendon, tightening in his calf, and has a sore lower back. He says doctors have not mentioned leg surgery. But he doubts he'll play the Memorial next week in Dublin, Ohio. Woods said he'll start training by the end of next week. How his leg responds will determine when he can start hitting balls again—all but ruling out the Memorial.

"I've had four surgeries on it," Woods said. "Obviously, it's not what it was when I was little." That means Woods would go to the U.S. Open with little competition, although this is nothing new for him. In 2008, he had arthroscopic surgery after the Masters and didn’t play again until the U.S. Open. Doctors discovered a double stress fracture in his left tibia in the weeks before the major. Going against his doctor's advice, Woods not only played the U.S. Open, he won it at Torrey Pines in a 19-hole playoff. Now, he says his left leg is not nearly as bad as it was then. His golf, however, is a different story.