Tiger Woods says he didn't want to jeopardize chances of playing in Open by also playing in U.S. Open

Tiger Woods had planned to play in last month's U.S. Open, but problems with his surgically repaired right leg didn't allow him to compete in the third major of the season.

Woods said he skipped the U.S. Open because he didn't want to jeopardize his chances of playing in the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews, which begins on July 14.

«The plan was to play the U.S. Open, but physically I was not able to do that,» Woods said, while speaking to reporters Tuesday at the JP McManus Pro-Am at Adare Manor Golf Club in Ireland. «There's no way physically I could have done that. I had some issues with my leg and it would have put this tournament in jeopardy, and so there's no reason to do that.»

Woods' 15 major championships include three victories at The Open, including wins at the Old Course at St. Andrews in 2000 and 2005.

«This is a pretty historic Open that we are going to be playing,» Woods said. «I'm lucky enough to be part of the past champions that have won there, and want to play there again, and I don't know when they are ever going to go back while I'm still able to play at a high level. I want to be able to give it at least one more run at a high level.»

Woods hasn't played in an official event since he withdrew after 54 holes at the PGA Championship at Southern Hills on May 22. He carded a 9-over 79 in the third round, his worst score at a PGA Championship.

Woods, 46, has played in only two official events since he was seriously hurt in a car wreck outside Los Angeles on Feb. 23, 2021. He finished 47th at the Masters in April.

«Yeah, it's been worth it,» Woods said. «It's been hard. I've had some very difficult days and some days [in] which moving off the couch is a hell of a task, and that's just the way it