Tiger Woods: What His US Open Withdrawal Really Means

So by now, everyone seems to know that Tiger has decided to not attend the US Open, as his Achilles is bothering him.

He tweeted earlier, expressing his disappointment for having to miss it, but also noting that it is the best long-term option for him.

So, what exactly does this mean for Tiger?

It means that Tiger's rationality may finally be coming through. Unlike his knee injury at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, Woods has recognized this injury as a potentially career-ending one should he try to push through.

And don't try to say Woods' previous injury wasn't threatening, because it very well could have wrecked his knee for good.

Tiger's decision to go about this the intelligent way shows anyone who doubted him that he is really injured. Tiger Woods does not miss major championships—that is, unless he is injured.

He doesn't make excuses so he doesn't have to play; that's never been the person Tiger is. Find me a time when Tiger hid from a tournament because he was playing poorly. 

The second thing that comes to mind is that Tiger clearly wasn't ready to play in the Players Championship, but figured since he had played hurt once, he could do it again.

That theory was crushed when he walked off the front nine with a terrible score.

Tiger is no longer the youth of the game. He is a middle aged man with the body of a Champions Tour player. The reality that he won't be a fast healer, that these injuries can't be brushed off, finally set in and he realized that he can't just try to force the issue.

The seriousness of this injury is finally going to set in for people. At the US Open this year, there will be no Tiger Woods.

At this rate, don't expect to see or hear from the man until two weeks before the Open Championship.