Why wasn't Tiger Woods playing in the open?

Question

Why wasn't Tiger Woods playing in the open?

Answer 1

He's injured at the moment, so doesn't that make the whole Open a waste of time? The Best player in the world is injured so who cares who wins?

They didn't beat Tiger Woods!

Answer 2

Tiger Woods is out until 2009 to recover from knee reconstructive surgery.  Welcome back to planet Earth.

Answer 3

Woods wasn't playing, so it didn't matter?

Riiight.

He's played 12 Opens and won all of the...no, wait, he's won three, two on massive wide open fairways in glorious weather.

He had as much chance as my cat of winning this one...and I don't even own a cat.

Answer 4

He's out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Answer 5

Dude did you watch the U.S. Open?  The tournament he won on 1 leg?  Well he had surgery on that 1 leg and is out for the rest of the year.  That is why he didn't play in the British Open.

Answer 6

He had surgery to repair a ligament or something like that.

Answer 7

I think there's something wrong with his leg or knee.

Answer 8

He is injured at the moment. He is also likely to miss the Ryder Cup in September and also the US PGA.

Answer 9

He's injured at the moment. I'm sure Harrington was pleased!

Answer 10

The darkened man:

Though Tiger Woods is by far the best golfer on the planet:  I suppose Padraig Harrington's victory when Tiger was playing last year doesn't count either.

To defend the "claret jug" is a remarkable achievement, which few ever manage to achieve, though Tiger has done so.

Why not show some magnanimty in future?  Or are only American sportsmen allowed to win?

Addenda:

It does count.  He defended what he had already won.