The Loop

Tiger Woods officially commits to Memorial

May 26, 2010

Tiger Woods confirmed on Wednesday what had already been suspected, officially committing to defend his title at the Memorial.

In a statement on his website, Woods said he hadn't fully recovered from a neck injury that forced him to withdraw from the Players Championship, but that he was well enough to return to competition. Originally fearing a bulging disk, Woods learned from an MRI that he had merely an inflamed facet joint, and that a full recovery was expected.

"The doctors advised me to take a week off and rest, which I did," Woods said. "They prescribed physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication and soft-tissue messages, which I'm continuing with. Although I'm not 100 percent, I feel much better and look forward to competing next week."

Following the Memorial, Woods has already committed to play the U.S. Open, the AT&T National, and the British Open. He is the de facto defending champion of all three tournaments -- winning the last U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 2000, last year's AT&T, and the last British Open at St. Andrews, in 2005.

*-- Sam Weinman