Why Tiger Woods isn't playing the US Open as PGA and LIV set for awkward meeting
The 15-time Major champion won't be in Los Angeles for the US Open this week.
PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf agree shock merger
Tiger Woods will be missing from the leaderboard at the US Open on Thursday when the third Major of the year gets underway in Los Angeles. The 47-year-old has been out of action since withdrawing from The Masters in April and won't be back in contention this week.
Woods was forced to pull out ahead of the third round at Augusta, citing plantar fasciitis as the problem. However, he has since undergone surgery which has prolonged his absence.
The three-time US Open winner underwent a subtalar fusion procedure in New York in order to tackle a problem caused by a previous fracture of his talus bone, in his ankle joint.
The surgery forced him to miss last month's US PGA Championship at Oak Hill and he will again be absent from an assembly of the world's best golfers at Los Angeles Country Club this week.
Any major brings its own guaranteed drama but the LA showdown has an extra narrative as it will be the first elite tournament since last week's controversial announcement regarding an agreed merger between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the breakaway LIV Golf Tour.
The PGA Tour and LIV Golf in particular have been involved in a war of words for months and months, including many of the high-profile players both tours represent, such as Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed.
But when the serious business gets underway on Thursday, the warring players will supposedly all be swinging for the same side.
Woods, who stayed loyal to the PGA Tour despite the offer of guaranteed millions in income had he switched to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf circuit, will avoid any uncomfortable conversations this weekend as he continues to recover from surgery.
But although it is an injury that has kept the 15-time Major winner off the tee box this week, he could be forgiven for purposely swerving the Los Angeles Country Club for his comeback appearance.
Footage has emerged showing that the rough around the fairways of the Californian course is so deep that simply dropping a ball onto the surface makes the ball completely disappear from view.
That will put extra pressure on competitors this week to tame their drives and try to hit as many fairways as possible otherwise the risk of shooting above-par scores will grow ever greater.
Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick will look to defend the title he won at Brookline last year, but bookies have instilled current world number one Scottie Scheffler as the favourite, followed by Masters winner Jon Rahm and US PGA champion Brooks Koepka.