Tiger Woods has made a decision to go ahead with season-ending knee surgery, the world's No. 1 golfer announced on his website on Wednesday.
Woods, who battled through the injury to win the U.S. Open on Monday, experienced a small stress fracture in his left leg about two weeks before the major.
"Now, it is clear that the right thing to do is to listen to my doctors, follow through with this surgery and focus my attention on rehabilitating my knee," Woods said in a statement on his website.
Woods will have reconstructive surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament and will rest for the remainder of the year to get him back to 100 percent. Bothered by a sore left knee throughout the year, Woods had arthroscopic surgery in April to remove fluid inside and outside the ACL.
He first complained of soreness at the season-ending Tour Championship in early November, although Woods said it bothered him all year.
"The stress fractures that were discovered just prior to the tournament unfortunately prevented me from participating and had a huge impact on the timing for my return," Woods said. "I was determined though, to do everything and anything in my power to play in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, which is a course that is close to where I grew up and holds many special memories for me."
Monday's victory was the second time Woods has won a PGA Tour event and a U.S. Open on the same course - Pebble Beach in 2000 and Torrey Pines, where in January he won by eight shots for his sixth Buick Invitational title.
"Although I will miss the rest of the 2008 season, I'm thrilled with the fact that last week was such a special tournament," Woods said.
He has won eight times at Torrey Pines, including a Junior World Championship.
It was also his 65th career victory, passing Ben Hogan for third all time. Woods raised his playoff record to 15-2 and made it 14-of-14 in majors when he had at least a share of the lead going into the final round.
Woods has won every major in a playoff except for the British Open.