World number one Tiger Woods has ruled himself out of action until next year at the earliest and won't swing a club until he is fully recovered from knee surgery that kept him out of the last two majors won by Pádraig Harrington.
The 14 time major winner spoke of his ongoing rehabilitation but ruled out the possibility of lifting a club before next year.
"As far as swinging a club, that's not going to happen until next year," he said.
"I just don't have a choice. We simply don't know what type of swelling there would be or if there would be any residual effects the next day once you start wheeling and dealing on the knee.
"Everyone's body reacts differently. I could putt right now, but I'm not going to do it.
"I don't know what the doctors are going to tell me about playing golf down the road," added Woods, who said he is mostly eating "raw and organic foods that provide the most nutrients".
Woods had reconstructive surgery on his left knee on June 24th, eight days after he hobbled to a most impressive US Open play-off win against Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines. Later it emerged he was also playing with two stress fractures in his left tibia.
He has since started riding an exercise bike as part of the recovery but admitted he needs to do more than just heal his leg before he can return to playing.
"Initially, I probably lost about 10 pounds because I wasn't working out," he said. "All of that was muscle. I've put about two pounds back on, but I'm still pretty light."
Woods first tore knee ligament when out running after last year's British Open at Carnoustie where Harrington recorded his first major win. The American was forced to take 10 weeks off at the end of the 2007 season.
He was sidelined once more, this time for two months after this year's Masters following arthroscopic surgery. He didn't compete again until the US Open at Torrey Pines.
In all Woods has only played in six PGA Tour events this year and won four. What he missed most was not being able to defend the US PGA while attempting three-in-a-row. However, he gave much praise to Harrington.
"As a two-time defending PGA champion, it was a lot more frustrating not to be competing and that hurts the most," said Woods.
"The thing I miss the most about not competing is the fight. I've gone through this experience before, so I knew what I was in for. I know I'm in no condition to beat anybody right now, so I don't have a problem with not being able to compete."
"I want to congratulate Pádraig Harrington on his wins at the British (Open) and PGA," added Woods.
-additional reporting PA
