Woods on track for Open

Tiger Woods said he won’t play next week at Memphis, Tenn., but that his surgically repaired left knee is improving and he is on track to play in the U.S. Open in two weeks.

Woods, who had arthroscopic surgery to correct cartilage damage in his left knee April 15, just after he finished second at the Masters, decided he wasn’t ready to play in this week’s Memorial tournament, or next week’s PGA Tour event at Memphis.

“Just been training and trying to get things organized for the Open, and it’s right on schedule for that,” he said.

Woods made his comments Tuesday at a news conference at Congressional Country Club, where his AT&T; National will be played the first week of July. Woods limped slightly as he walked into the room, according to the Associated Press.

The U.S. Open will be played June 12-15 at the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Club in La Jolla and if Woods is correct that he’ll be ready for the first round, it will be 57 days since he had surgery.

-- Thomas Bonk

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Michelle Wie will make her first appearance in a full Ladies European Tour field at this week’s German Open.

The 18-year-old American was given a sponsor’s invitation to play in the event, which begins Thursday. A sore wrist and studies at Stanford have limited her to only two tournaments on the LPGA Tour this year.

“I feel a lot healthier and I want to start playing more and playing some good golf,” Wie said.

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Ernie Els changed his mind Tuesday and will play in the Memorial, a tournament he won four years ago.

“Originally, this week was going to be a gap in my schedule, but I’ve changed my mind and decided to play in the Memorial,” Els said.