Tiger Woods is chipping and putting again, and he hopes to play in the Memorial in two weeks. But even if he can't compete until the U.S. Open, he doesn't expect the same result as his last layoff during a season.

Two years ago, Woods didn't play for nine weeks while coping with the death of his father. He returned to competition in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot and missed the cut for the only time in a major.

"That was a totally different mental situation than I am now," Woods said Monday in St. Louis. "Even when I came back for the Open, I probably wasn't ready to play yet. I was eager to get back and play and be in a competitive environment, but I wasn't ready to deal with all the things you have to deal with inside the ropes. ... And it showed, and I played terrible.

"This time around, it's totally different. Everything in my life is doing great. I'm just trying to get the leg organized enough to where I can play, and hopefully, I can play before. If not -- if I can't play before -- then hopefully, at the Open."

Woods had surgery on his left knee April 15 for the second time in five years, this time to clean out cartilage. He has not played since finishing three shots behind Trevor Immelman at the Masters.

Doctors said the recovery would be four to six weeks, and Woods said his rehabilitation was going well.

"I'll tell you what, I'm getting sick and tired of riding the bike," he said.

Woods spoke on a video conference to promote the BMW Championship, which he won last year on his way to capturing the FedEx Cup. The tournament will be held Sept. 4-7 at Bellerive Country Club, where Woods has played only a practice round. He was on the course the morning of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

He has been able to chip and putt, and Woods said he hopes to work his way through the bag to hit fuller shots as he regains strength. But he is in no shape to play now, except for a short game contest.

"I couldn't compete against those guys, unless we were playing a putt-putt course," he said. "All I could do was chip and putt. I think they would have a distinct advantage over me for anything over 30 yards."

Woods first had surgery on his left knee in 1994 to remove a benign tumor. He had surgery again in December 2002, and won 30 times and five majors since then. He is not worried about a chronic condition in his knee or his health as he pursues Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships.

"After the first surgery, I said I probably wouldn't have another one. Then after the second one, I wouldn't have another one," he said. "And now here I am having three. It is what it is. It's the nature of playing sports."

Woods could not defend his title at the Wachovia Championship, won by Anthony Kim. He missed The Players Championship for the first time, and Sergio Garcia won in a playoff.

The Memorial, hosted by Nicklaus and played on a course on which Woods has won three times, starts May 29. The U.S. Open is June 12-15 at Torrey Pines, where Woods has won six times as a pro.

WIE WON'T TAKE PART IN SORENSTAM'S GINN TRIBUTE: Don't look for Michelle Wie at this year's Ginn Tribute hosted by Annika Sorenstam in Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Wie did not seek an exemption into the event she played a year ago, tournament officials said. Last May, Wie, citing a wrist injury, withdrew after playing 16 holes of her opening round.

Wie said she left because of her wrist and not because she was two shots shy of the LPGA Tour's "88" rule. That would have banned her from further tour exemptions until the following season for shooting an 88 or higher.

Wie, however, was seen practicing at the LPGA Tour's next stop.

This year, tournament exemptions went to LPGA rookie Ashleigh Simon from South Africa and Duke golfer Alison Whitaker.

The tournament takes place at RiverTowne Country Club from May 29-June 1.