Tiger Woods, who normally plays two weeks before a Major, has decided to skip the $3.6m PGA Kemper Open which begins on Thursday at the Tournament Players Club at Avenel, Maryland.

Woods had said last week that he was "50-50" about playing at Avenel, but did not commit and will instead take an extended break before the US Open begins on 13 June at Bethpage Park, New York.

The world number one disappointed at The Memorial tournament last week, finishing in a tie for 22nd. Woods will also skip next week's Buick Classic.

Poor turn-out

"We're disappointed," admitted Pete Cleaves, the general chairman of the Kemper Open.

"It's important for any tournament to have the top money winners and the marquee names."

Sadly, only two of the top 10 money-winners on the PGA Tour - Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal and American Chris DiMarco - will be playing in the Kemper Open.

Olazabal is enjoying his best year on the tour since 1994, when he finished seventh on the money list.

He ranks fourth this year in earnings, having posted seven top 10 finishes in nine starts.

Lickliter success

DiMarco has five top 10 finishes in 14 starts to rank eighth on the money list.

Jim Furyk, who ended Woods' three-year stanglehold at The Memorial last week, is also participating.

The Kemper Open has produced first-time PGA Tour winners each of the last three years - Rich Beem, Tom Scherrer and Frank Lickliter.

Lickliter birdied the final hole to post a one-stroke victory over J.J. Henry for his first and only career title last year.