Tiger Woods may lie low until U.S. Open

One week after having knee surgery, there’s a chance that Tiger Woods’ comeback may be later rather than sooner.

Woods may not play again until the U.S. Open, which begins the week of June 9 at Torrey Pines South in La Jolla.

Woods underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee April 15 in Park City, Utah, and it was announced that he would miss from four to six weeks.

Woods’ management team debated those specific numbers, not so much as a hard and fast timetable, but more to set a reasonable goal that wouldn’t rush Woods.

He is certain to miss next week’s Wachovia and the Players a week later, but there are reasonable assumptions gaining note – even without comment from the Woods camp – that Woods may not choose to make his comeback, as many expected, at the Memorial, which begins the week of May 26.

Even though Jack Nicklaus is the host of the Memorial and Woods is understandably closely tied to Nicklaus, the tournament seems to involve some factors that could sway Woods.

It’s notorious for being plagued by bad weather. Last year, play was suspended on Saturday afternoon because of thunderstorms and the third round was completed on Sunday morning, when there was another weather delay.

The chance of a repeat must be a concern to Woods. Starting and stopping in rainy weather is not exactly the optimum situation for someone coming off knee surgery.

Woods, who tied for 15th last year, hasn’t won the Memorial since 2001 – the last of his three straight titles at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.

Another question that the Woods camp is asking is this: Does Tiger really need a tournament before the Open?

That’s going to be up to Woods, but since the Open will be played at a course that resembles his personal playground, it’s certainly fair to assume Woods’ backers feel that Woods really doesn’t need a warm-up event.

Woods won the Buick Open in January at Torrey Pines by a tournament record eight shots. He has won the tournament six times, the last four years in a row.

While it’s true the U.S. Open setup will vary from that of the PGA Tour stop, Woods is more at home at Torrey Pines than any course in the country. And, by then, his knee should no longer be a factor, only talk about whether Woods can add to his 13 major championship titles.

thomas.bonk@latimes.com