Tiger’s knee woes return as TPC tilt ends early

TIGER WOODS’ preparations for next month’s US Open took another blow last night when he hobbled out of the Players Championship after just nine holes of his opening round.

The 14-time major winner had been playing for the first time since suffering knee and Achilles injuries in the Masters a month ago and having missed last week’s Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, the 35-year-old had only begun in practice since Monday.

Pádraig Harrington joined Woods among the walking wounded after knee problems left his Players Championship future in doubt.