In the Rough

World Number One Tiger Woods has said that he won’t be picking up another golf club until at least 2009.

Woods is out after having another knee operation to try and stop the problem once and for all. This time around though Tiger said he will be resting properly and not even thinking of picking up a golf club until he is 100% fit to play.

Tiger Woods has come back from this knee injury before to early and is determined not to make the same mistake again.

After an impressive finish at the World Golf Championship Nick Dougherty is looking for a good performance at this weeks USPGA. Dougherty has been struggling all of 2008 and his currently ranking 55th in the 2008 order of merit.

Nick Dougherty has only finished in the top ten three times this season, which compared to a win at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and a 11th place finish in 2007 on the order of merit list, 2008 has far than been going well for Dougherty.

However two final rounds of 69 at the World Golf Championship has put Nick in confident mood for this week and a good performance could be on the cards.

After Norman rolled back the years to compete in the British Open he was invited into the USPGA event the next major of 2008.

Greg Norman has said himself that he was surprised how much he competed at the British Open and is no tempted into the USPGA. The USPGA could be a very different event and it is unlikely that an over-par total will be competing come Sunday afternoon.

Greg Norman has said he will be making the decision as to whether he will be at the USPGA in the next 24 hours.

After Padraig Harrington retained his British Open trophy at Royal Birkdale on Sunday Evening the question is being asked “is Padraig one of the greatest links golfers?”.

His performance over the four days at Royal Birkdale was simply brilliant especially the back 9 on Sunday. Going into the tournament Harrington hadn’t played the back 9 all week together due to his wrist injury yet still produced a fantastic display putting the cherry on the cake with an eagle 3 at the Par 5 17th.

Harrington has also had a few wins at other links courses over his career and surely now must be considered a quality links golfer.

The wrist injury which Englands Luke Donald picked up at the US Open has failed to heel and he has pulled out of this weekends Scottish Open to rest his wrist further more and it is probably in preparation for The Open 2008 at Royal Birkdale.

World Number 1 golfer Tiger Woods has confirmed that he had the knee operation just two days after his USPGA Open win.

First signs are showing from the operation that it was successful knee reconstruction and Tiger Woods will be back better than ever. This is the second time Woods has had knee surgery this year but this time around Tiger will be fully resting and ensuring he comes back better than ever. If Tiger comes back anywhere near his best I am sure he will claim the elusive 5 majors and more which will put him ahead of current Major Title Holder Jack Nicklaus on 18.

Woods Stated “It was important to have the surgery as soon as possible” and continued to say “I look forward to working hard at my rehabilitation over the coming months and returning to the PGA Tour healthy next year”.

During Tiger Woods rehabilitation he will be spending time with his wife and daughter.

Englands 23 year old golfer Luke Donald has today annouced he will not be playing at this weeks French Open due to the persistent wrist injury which forced him to retire from the recent USPGA Open.

The wrist injury which forced Luke to retire half-way down the 14th at Torrey Pines looks to make it into a nervous wait for Donald over his Ryder Cup place for the 2008 Ryder Cup.

Luke Donald still isn’t secure of a place at this years Ryder Cup and unless his wrist injury heels and he can get some points he could have to rely on a wild card entry from Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo.

The world number 18 Donald would surely be safe in the knowledge that if he was fully fit then he would receive a wild card pick from the ryder cup captain. But the wrist injury will surely make it a nervous couple of months.

England golfer Ian Poulter who also retired hurt from the USPGA Open is still down to play at the French Open.

Ryder Cup’s Vice Captain Olazabal has also retired from the French Open. The 42 Year Old Spaniard who has been suffering from low energy levels and fatigue after battling rheumatism.