Tiger Woods, Forced to Miss the U.S. Open, Is Everywhere

Tiger Woods after sinking a birdie putt on No. 18 to force an 19-hole playoff during the final round of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in 2008.Credit...Andrew Gombert/European Pressphoto AgencyThe U.S. Open will be played in Los Angeles this week for the first time in 75 years, and there is a predominant California theme to the event. Many of the top contenders at the tournament grew up nearby. More than a dozen in the field were raised in California or call it home.

All of which makes it seem almost wrong, or cruel, that the best California golfer in history will not be competing. Tiger Woods, who grew up in Cypress, Calif., about 30 miles from the site of this year’s national golf…