LA JOLLA, Calif. (AP) -- If he skips his next two tournaments because of a sore left knee, Tiger Woods almost certainly will not play in the minimum 15 events. That would not affect his PGA Tour membership, only his voting membership.

Most players who fall short of the 15 events can apply for a medical extension, but Woods doesn't need one. He now is exempt on Tour through 2013, and once he puts in two more years, will be exempt for life with 65 victories.

But there might even be a loophole for his voting membership.

"What the regulation doesn't address -- but the spirit of the regulation addresses -- is here's a guy who doesn't need a medical extension," said Andy Pazder, the Tour's vice president of competition. "You would say the spirit is to extend a person's voting membership due to a period he missed because of injury."

As for the Ryder Cup?

According to the PGA of America, the ninth player in the U.S. standings through the PGA Championship would qualify for the team if Woods decides he cannot play. By winning the U.S. Open, Woods mathematically clinched a spot on the team.

SCHEDULE CHANGE: The merchandise tent and corporate chalets were on the first fairway of the North Course at Torrey Pines. The media center was on the second fairway, the practice range occupying the fourth, first, ninth and 18th holes.

The good news is that it will have a few extra weeks to get back in shape for two rounds of the Buick Invitational.

Because the 2009 season does not start in Kapalua until Jan. 8, and the Super Bowl is held Feb. 1, there have been some changes to the West Coast Swing next year.

The Buick Invitational, played the last week in January the last four years, will be held Feb. 5-8, the week after the Super Bowl. That spot usually is occupied by the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, which will be held a week later.

BACK IN THE BOOTH: Curtis Strange looked as comfortable as ever in the broadcast booth at the U.S. Open, where he spent 2 hours each of the first two rounds on ESPN with Mike Tirico. They were the ABC tandem for eight years through 2004.

He also joined Peter Jacobsen with NBC Sports' Bob Costas for brief observations on the weekend.

"It was a lot of fun," Strange said. "I'd love for it to work into a couple more events."

ESPN also televises Friday of the Ryder Cup, and Strange was the U.S. captain in 2002 at The Belfry. Strange said he felt at home analyzing the U.S. Open as the last player to win back-to-back years (1988-89) and the only player to break par in a U.S. Open for three consecutive years.

As for his golf on the Champions Tour?

"I still want to play," he said. "But I don't want to play like I've been playing."

Strange has yet to win since turning 50 in 2004 and is 46th on the money list in 10 starts this year.

DIVOTS: Justin Leonard didn't make a birdie the first two rounds of the U.S. Open and still made the cut. He tied for 36th. Davis Love III did not make a birdie on the weekend and slipped from a tie for fifth to a tie for 53rd.

STAT OF THE WEEK: Tiger Woods, Brandt Snedeker, Robert Karlsson and Miguel Angel Jimenez are the only players to have finished in the top 10 in both majors this year.

FINAL WORD: "If anybody in this world goes up against Tiger when he's at his best, they're going to lose. It's just that simple." -- Rocco Mediate, after losing in 19 holes of a playoff at the U.S. Open.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved.