Injury Knocks Woods Out of U.S. Open : Golf: He is forced to withdraw on the sixth hole after spraining his wrist while hitting out of tall grass.

U.S. Amateur champion Tiger Woods was forced to withdraw from his first U.S. Open on Friday when he sprained a ligament in his left wrist hitting out of tall grass.

The 19-year-old Stanford freshman from Cypress injured his wrist on the third hole and withdrew after hitting his drive on No. 6.

“On No. 3 I hit a one-iron left off the tee into some fescue grass and tried to hit a wedge out from there,” Woods said. “I bent it out forward, and something tweaked in my wrist. They said it is a sprained ligament.

“I kept trying to play on and it progressively got worse and weaker. I hit another drive left on [No.] 5 into the same kind of grass and tried to hit it out with a wedge and I really hurt it. I hit another drive on [No.] 6 and I said that was it. I could no longer hold on to the club with normal grip pressure.”

Woods, who was playing in a threesome with first-round leader Nick Price and defending Open champion Ernie Els, had an opening 4-over-par 74 and was four over for the five holes he played Friday after an opening par.

“I’m kind of bummed out by the fact I’m not playing,” he said. “I felt I was going to make the cut. This is what happens when you hit it into the long grass. You’re supposed to stay out of it.”

Woods, his wrist wrapped protectively, was upbeat throughout the interview.

“They told me I would have treatment today and tomorrow and hopefully I can play next week in the Northeast Amateur,” he said. “They said one good thing is I am young and people who are young heal quick and I’ve always been able to heal quick.”

Woods has been bothered in the past because of back spasms.

“That’s an ongoing thing,” the 6-foot-2, 160-pounder said. “It’s just because I’m wiry. If you look at me I’m not very big.”

He also missed two weeks of the college season with a left shoulder injury and he underwent surgery last Dec. 7.

Woods said he would stay at the Open over the weekend.

“Yeah, I’ll stay this weekend for treatment,” he said breaking into a smile. “On the amateur tour, we don’t exactly have a trainer who follows us around.”