Tiger Woods has said he will be unable to swing a golf club until next year as he recovers from reconstructive knee surgery.

The American world number one decided to have surgery on his left knee for a fourth time after winning the U.S. Open in mid-June, ending his 2008 PGA Tour campaign.

“As far as swinging a club, that’s not going to happen until next year,” Woods said in his monthly newsletter on Tuesday. “I just don’t have a choice.

“We simply don’t know what type of swelling there would be or if there would be any residual effects the next day once you start wheeling and dealing on the knee. Everyone’s body reacts differently. I could putt right now but I’m not going to do it.”

Woods, a winner of 14 major titles, underwent an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction of his left knee. He had torn his knee ligament after last year’s British Open at Carnoustie while running and took 10 weeks off at the end of the 2007 season.

He took a further two months off after having arthroscopic surgery two days after the Masters in April and did not play competitively until the June 12-15 U.S. Open.

“I don’t know what the doctors are going to tell me about playing golf down the road,” the 32-year-old added. “I’m taking it day-to-day, week-to-week. All I’m doing every day is looking forward to my next day.”

Weight Loss
Woods said his rehabilitation was going well, despite an initial weight loss.

“I’m a lot more mobile, which is really nice,” he added. ”The big thing is I’ve started my rehab and can ride the (exercise) bike. I can’t ride it hard -- just motion -- but am getting in two or three sessions a day.

“Initially, I probably lost about 10 pounds because I wasn’t working out. All of that was muscle. I’ve put about two pounds back on, but I’m still pretty light. I’m eating mostly raw and organic foods that provide the most nutrients.”

While spending quality time at home with his Swedish wife Elin and young daughter Sam Alexis, Woods has been watching television coverage of the Olympic Games.

He also watched last week’s U.S. PGA Championship at Oakland Hills where Ireland’s Padraig Harrington won his second successive major title.

“I want to congratulate Padraig Harrington on his wins at the British (Open) and PGA,” said Woods, PGA champion in 1999, 2000, 2006 and 2007.

“As a two-time defending PGA champion, it was a lot more frustrating not to be competing and that hurts the most.”

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Congratulations to Harrington
Tiger Woods watched enough of the PGA Championship to see Padraig Harrington join him as the only players this decade to win two majors in the same season, and he congratulated the Irishman in a newsletter Tuesday.

Woods said he watched only parts of the British Open, PGA Championship and Senior British Open, where friend John Cook was in contention. But he sounded eager about watching the first Ryder Cup without him since 1995.

“I will definitely watch some of the Ryder Cup matches and will be pulling hard for the American team,” he said. “I wish I could do more than root!”

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