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Former world number one Tiger Woods has confirmed that he will miss The Open Championship at Royal St George's next week due to injury.
The 35-year-old American has been sidelined since limping out of the Players Championship in mid-May after a handful of holes and has been unable to recover from knee and Achilles problems in time to mount a challenge for a fourth Claret Jug.
His withdrawal leaves US Open champion Rory McIlroy6.50 to triumph at Sandwich, with Lee Westwood11.00 to win his first major title and world number one Luke Donald15.00 to do likewise.
Woods announced via his own personal website: "Unfortunately, I've been advised that I should not play in the British Open.
"As I stated at the AT & T National, I am only going to come back when I'm 100 per cent ready. I do not want to risk further injury.
"That's different for me, but I'm being smarter this time. I'm very disappointed and want to express my regrets to the fans."
Woods currently has 14 major titles to his name and is just four short of the all-time record set by Jack Nicklaus and is confident that he will return to challenge to overhaul his compatriot.
"I think my best years are still ahead of me and I'm very confident and optimistic about the future," Woods added.
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