Woods hoping to play Memorial at end of May

Tiger Woods said Monday he is back to chipping and putting and may try and play before the U.S. Open.
In a teleconference at Bellerive Country Club to promote the BMW Championship here in September, Woods said he is feeling good. It will be his first tournament in St. Louis.
"The rehab is going well," Woods said from Orlando "I'll you what, I'm getting sick and tired of riding the bike."
He has ventured back on the practice range in a limited way.
TIGER SIDELINED: Woods has surgery for injured knee
"I'm chipping and putting. I hope to work up from that. I need to get stronger and get my game ready to compete and get back out there."
Woods had arthroscopic surgery April 15, two days after he finished three shots behind Trevor Immelman in the Masters. It was the second time in five years Woods had surgery on his left knee to clean out some cartilage.
The surgery was performed in Park City, Utah, by Thomas Rosenberg, who also operated on Woods' left knee in December 2002. The 2002 surgery drained fluid from around the anterior cruciate ligament and removed a benign cyst.
Woods won 30 times and five majors since the 2002 surgery.
Woods also had surgery in 1994 on his left knee to remove a benign tumor.
It was estimated he would need at least four weeks to recover from his latest operation.
He does not believe he has a chronic condition with his left knee. Woods said he is not worried about his health.
"Now I've had three," Woods said having knee surgery. "It is what it is. It's the nature of playing sports."
Before the surgery, Woods was having another terrific year. He has won three PGA Tour titles this season and hasn't finished out of the top five in five events this year.
Since having his surgery, Woods missed defending his title at the Wachovia Championship. He also missed last weekend's Players Championship for the first time in his career. Sergio Garcia won The Players Championship in a playoff with Paul Goydos.
After winning, Garcia, a 28-year-old Spaniard who has had seven PGA Tour victories, had a quip about Woods not playing in the tournament.
"First of all," Garcia said, "I want to thank Tiger for not being here. That always makes things a little bit easier."
Woods said he did not take offense and would not use the statement for motivation when he returns to the game.
"I think it's just poking fun," Woods said simply.
He is hoping to return for the Memorial Invitational in Ohio, which starts May 29.
The U.S. Open will be June 12-15 at Torrey Pines, a course where Woods has won six times as a pro. In his 2008 debut at the Buick Invitational at Torry Pines, Woods scored an eight-shot victory — the first of four straight victories this year. Woods won the Buick Invitational for the third straight time, and he also won there as a junior.
Woods said the course will play differently for the U.S. Open.
"I'm looking forward to playing there when it is dry and fast," Woods said. "The golf course will be set up fair and it will be difficult. You will have to play well and to win a U.S. Open, you have to play well."
Woods was at Bellerive for the American Express Championship on Sept. 11, 2001. He was in the midst of a practice round when the hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade Center in New York. A member of the PGA security came out on the course to get the players.
"We all knew what that meant," Woods said when he was informed about the incident. "We all went to the clubhouse to watch the horrific events."
How did he get out of St. Louis?
"I basically stole a Buick and drove home," Woods laughed. "I drove non-stop. It took me 18 hours to get home. "
As defending champion of the BMW Championship, a FedEx Cup event, that previously was held in Chicago, Woods said he would come to St. Louis to defend his championship in the Sept. 4-7 event.
"Once you enter the week, it's up for grabs," Woods said. "You're defending champ for 51 weeks and that's it. Anyone can win. That's how I've always approached it.
"I haven't done a whole lot in St. Louis before. I'm looking forward to getting back."
It has not been all boring rehab for Woods.
Since the surgery, Woods went to Las Vegas for "Tiger Jam XI," a charity concert that raised more than $1.5 million for his foundation. Van Halen played and Woods said he enjoyed the show.
"It was incredible. I liked the first half and I struggled in the second half as my pain meds wore off," he said with a grin. "Eddie (Van Halen) and I are good friends. I've always been a huge Van Halen fan."