GOLF NEWS ROUND-UPRETIEF GOOSEN says he plans to contact Tiger Woods to explain his "tongue-in-cheek" comments last week that the world number one may have been over-stating the seriousness of his knee injury.

"Talk about putting my foot in my mouth!" said Goosen. "I wholeheartedly apologise for that and intend to contact Tiger to explain this to him. To be honest, the fact Tiger won the US Open while suffering that sort of injury is incredible. Clearly this Goose was no match for a one-legged Tiger!

"I wish Tiger a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back on tour as soon as possible. I am a huge admirer of Tiger and for what he has achieved in golf and we are all lucky to have the privilege to be playing in the same era as one of, if not the, best player of all time."

Woods is expected to fully recover after having reconstructive surgery on his left knee on Tuesday, though a timetable for his return to competitive golf hasn't been determined. The top-ranked golfer needed the procedure in Park City, Utah, to repair an anterior cruciate ligament.

"I'm pleased with the results," said Dr Thomas Rosenberg. "With the proper rehabilitation and training it's highly unlikely Mr Woods will have any long-term effects as it relates to his career."

The 32-year-old is also recovering from two stress fractures in his left tibia, the larger of the two bones in the lower leg. "I look forward to working hard at my rehabilitation over the coming months and returning to the PGA Tour healthy next year," Woods said.

Woods tore the ligament in his knee after the 2007 British Open while running near his home in Orlando, Florida, and underwent arthroscopic surgery in April.

The latest surgery, the fourth of his career, will force him to miss the two remaining major tournaments - the British Open next month and the PGA Championship in August. He'll also miss September's Ryder Cup.