US Open champion Woods said his anterior cruciate ligament, which was rebuilt a fortnight ago using a tendon from his hamstring, had always been weak and had finally snapped while jogging on a golf course a year ago.

He played on afterwards, winning two more Majors, until the situation became exacerbated by a stress fracture at Torrey Pines last month and he was booked in for surgery.

“My left knee has been sore for 10 to 12 years so it will be nice to finally have a healthy leg,” said Woods, who misses this month’s Open.

“They assured me my long-term health will be a hell of a lot better than it has been over the last decade and I’m really looking forward to that.

“Some people are back to playing sports in six months, some nine, some 12, so no one really knows when I’ll be back until I start the rehab process.”