Tiger Woods is out of not just next month's Open, but also the Ryder Cup in September and all golf for the rest of the year.
So now nobody can question that the world number one's US Open victory on Monday was one of the most amazing achievements ever in sport.
It was announced on Wednesday that Woods has a double stress fracture of his left tibia and needs anterior cruciate ligament surgery.
Staggeringly, Woods knew about the fracture before grabbing the 14th major of his career in a play-off against fellow American Rocco Mediate.
"I knew much was made about my knee throughout the last week and it was important to me that I disclose my condition publicly at an appropriate time," said the 32-year-old in a statement on his website.
"I wanted to be very respectful of the USGA (United States Golf Association) and their incredibly hard work and make sure the focus was on the US Open.
"Now it is clear that the right thing to do is listen to my doctors, follow through with this surgery and focus my attention on rehabilitating my knee."
The statement added that the stress fracture was discovered last month just before the Memorial tournament in Ohio.
That was due to be Woods' comeback from the knee surgery he underwent two days after coming second in The Masters in April.
But the fact that he then decided to play at Torrey Pines, a course where he has now won five times in a row, simply defies belief.
Repeatedly during the five days of the event - the US Open play-off is over 18 holes and with both players still tied at the end of that it went to another hole - Woods was in agony.
The caddie of Robert Karlsson, who played with Woods in the third round, told Paul Casey that there were even noises coming from the knee as Woods swung.
"He said there was a moment, I think on the 18th, where he stepped up to hit his tee shot and backed off because of weird noises," Casey stated on Wednesday.
"They all chuckled and he said 'I shouldn't hit this one too hard'. He got it in play and made eagle! Amazing.
"I think he's so focused on his goal, beating Jack's record (Nicklaus has 18 majors), and he battled through it. It shows how determined he is to beat that record."
In an interview with German television before this week's BMW International Retief Goosen questioned whether Woods really was in serious trouble.
The South African said: "It just seemed that when he hit a bad shot he was in pain and on his good shots he wasn't. I believe if he was really injured he would not have played."
Goosen has since insisted he was speaking light-heartedly and his manager Guy Kinnings said that he would be among the first to wish Woods a speedy recovery.
Not being able to play at Royal Birkdale on July 17-20 is a huge blow for him and the championship.
Woods would have been going for his fourth Open title on a course where he missed out on a play-off by just one shot 10 years ago.
It will presumably be next April's Masters that he resumes his quest to catch and overtake Nicklaus, but the seriousness of the situation must even leave a question mark over that until he makes a complete recovery from the reconstructive surgery on his knee.
His doctors have assured him, meanwhile, that his stress fractures will fully heal in time.
How well America can do without him in the Ryder Cup remains to be seen, of course.
Woods has played in the last five matches, but four of those have been European victories and he makes no secret of the fact that he does not consider the match as important as the majors.
His opening tee shot at The K Club near Dublin two years ago was hooked into the lake, setting the tone for a terrible week for Tom Lehman's side.
Europe won by nine points that week, equalling their record winning margin of two years earlier in Detroit.
But it should be remembered - and this should concern new American captain Paul Azinger - that Woods did end up winning three of his five games and his only defeat in singles was against Costantino Rocca on his debut at Valderrama in July 1997.
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said: "For an athlete as talented and competitive as Tiger Woods, taking the rest of the season off must have been an incredibly difficult, yet necessary decision, one that we understand and support completely.
"The fact he needs additional surgery only makes his performance and victory at last week's US Open all the more impressive.
"First and foremost, our concern - as it would be for any of our players facing surgery or illness - is for Tiger's health and overall wellbeing, both on and off the golf course. We wish him a speedy recovery."
US PGA president Brian Whitcomb said: "Once again this weekend, Tiger showed his special brand of skill and determination which makes him our game's greatest champion.
"As a fellow PGA member and friend we wish him a full and speedy recovery."
US Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger added: "I admire Tiger as a person, player and fan.
"This should not be about Tiger and the Ryder Cup now - this is about Tiger's health and wellbeing and his march to history."
TIGER WOODS FACTFILE
1975: Born December 30, Cypress, California, son of retired US Army lieutenant colonel Earl Woods and Thai-born wife Kultida. Named Eldrick but nicknamed Tiger after a Vietnamese soldier befriended by Earl.
1976: Aged six months, watched his father hit golf balls into a net and imitated his swing.
1978: Appears on a television show putting with Bob Hope.
1979: Shoots 48 for nine holes aged three.
1991: Youngest ever winner of the US Junior championship aged 15.
1992: First player to win the US Junior championship twice. Makes US Tour debut.
1994: Youngest winner of the US Amateur championship, coming back from six holes down after 13 in the 36-hole final.
1995: Makes the cut on his Masters debut.
1996: Equals the lowest-ever total by an amateur in the Open, finishing 22nd at Lytham. Wins his third US Amateur title after being two down with three to play. Turns professional and signs a reported Ј25million five-year deal with Nike.
1997: Becomes youngest winner of the Masters with a record 18-under-par total that also saw him win by the largest-ever margin - 12 strokes.
1998: No major wins but finished in the top 20 of each.
1999: Member of the winning US Ryder Cup team at Brookline, Boston.
2000: Wins US Open at Pebble Beach with a record total in relation to par of 12 under and a record winning margin of 15 strokes. Wins the Open championship at St Andrews by eight shots, finishing 19 under par. Wins the US PGA championship.
2001: Wins his second Masters title to become the first player ever to hold all four professional Majors at the same time, dubbed the 'Tiger Slam'.
2002: Wins back-to-back Masters titles to match the achievement of Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo. Claims his second US Open title at Bethpage, becoming the first player ever to lead the tournament twice from start to finish.
2003: Breaks Byron Nelson's record for consecutive cuts made with his 114th straight at the Tour Championship.
2004: Surpasses the 40million US dollar mark for career earnings at the year's opening event, the Mercedes Championship, and makes it 40 US Tour wins when beating Davis Love in the final.
2005: Wins fourth Masters title in a play-off with Chris DiMarco and is second to New Zealand's Michael Campbell in the US Open. Cruises to victory in the Open championship at St Andrews, leaving Colin Montgomerie five shots behind in second.
2006: April - Third in the US Masters behind Phil Mickelson.
June - Misses his first cut in 38 majors as a professional at the US Open following nine-week lay-off after the death of his father, Earl.
July 23 - Wins third Open title at Hoylake by two shots from DiMarco with 18-under-par total of 270.
August 6 - Wins Buick Open, his 50th PGA Tour victory.
August 20 - Wins 12th major title, the US PGA at Medinah, continuing his record of never having lost a major when leading heading into the final round.
2007: June : Becomes a father for the first time after wife Elin gives birth to a daughter, Sam Alexis, less than 24 hours after finishing second at the US Open.
August 12 - Claims 13th major by successfully defending his US PGA title, extending his record of never having lost a major when leading heading into the final round.
2008: April 15 - Undergoes third left knee arthroscopic operation, missing twomonths of the season.
June 16 - Returns to action by winning third US Open title at Torrey Pines after an 18-hole play-off against Rocco Mediate. The result elevates him to outright third place ahead of Ben Hogan in the all-time list of PGA Tour title wins.
June 18 - Announces he is to undergo knee surgery, ruling him out of The Open.
Texans’ Johnson to miss workouts after surgery
WOODS GOES UNDER KNIFE
Totti to have surgery
