Injured Woods to play in Open

Tiger Woods has added the July 15-18 British Open to his playing schedule for this year, though he is still sidelined with a lingering neck injury.

According to his website, the American world No1 will compete in the year's third major at St Andrews in Scotland, having already committed to the June 17-20 US Open and the July 1-4 AT&T National.

Woods, who withdrew from the final round of this month's Players Championship because of neck pain, has lifted the prized claret jug the last two times the British Open was held at St Andrews, in 2000 and 2005.

He had also been planning to defend his title at the June 3-6 Memorial tournament in Dublin, Ohio, but that event is still up in the air while he continues to heal an inflamed facet joint.

While he gave no hint as to the timing of his return to the PGA Tour, Woods said last week he expected to make a full recovery.

"I now need to take care of this condition and will return to playing golf when I'm physically able," the 34-year-old said in a statement.

Woods added that the injury would be treated through physical therapy, soft-tissue massage, rest and anti-inflammatory medicine.

The 14-times major winner has played only three events since returning from a self-imposed exile of five months following revelations about his marital infidelities at the end of last year.

Dubliner Pádraig Harrington still hopes to be fit for the US Open despite the fact that he will be undergoing keyhole surgery on his right knee next week.

The triple Major champion damaged cartilage playing football at Christmas. He will go under the knife at the end of this week's BMW PGA at Wentworth. After an MRI scan on the joint last Friday, he was advised by his surgeon to get it sorted sooner rather than later.

"It's having no current effect on my golf, bar not being able to squat on it when reading putts," said the 39-year-old. "But it affects my training and I don't want it to get any worse."

Harrington has dropped plans to play at the Wales Open but aims to return at the St Jude Classic in America to warm up for the US Open at Pebble Beach on June 15.