Tiger Woods said yesterday he will not be able to swing a golf club until next year, which puts into question when he will be able to resume playing on the PGA Tour. The six-time winner of the Buick Invitational may not be back to defend his title at Torrey Pines in the first week of February.

In an e-mailed newsletter, Woods said, “As far as swinging the club, that's not going to happen until next year. 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 the knee. Everybody's body reacts differently. I could putt right now, but I'm not going to do it.

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

Woods won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in June while playing on a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and underwent surgery June 24.

Woods said he has started his rehabilitation and is getting in two to three sessions a day riding a stationary bike.

He said he “didn't watch much” of the British Open and “watched some” of last week's PGA Championship.

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

– TOD LEONARD