ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods plans to skip the first three events on the PGA calendar and open his year at the Buick Invitational, where he is two-time defending champion.

Woods, on his Web site, said he has been spending time with his family and has not been preparing for tournament play.

"I just haven't been able to prepare," Woods wrote. "I usually spend at least one week working on my game before a tournament and have been unable to do that this year."

While the PGA season begins next week with the Mercedes Championship in Hawaii, the golf world will have to wait until Jan. 25 when the Buick Invitational begins in San Diego for Woods, its No. 1 player.

In addition to the Mercedes, Woods is skipping the Sony Open in Hawaii and the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in Palm Desert, Calif.

Woods is coming off an amazing 2006. He won two tournaments early but missed the cut at the U.S. Open, his first tournament after his father died. He finished second at the Western Open and then won five consecutive events, including the British Open and the PGA Championship. He won nine tournaments and more than $9.9 million overall last year.

Strahan does not need foot surgery

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan has been told his sprained right foot does not require surgery.

The injury forced the Giants to put Strahan on the injured reserve list earlier this week, making him ineligible for Saturday night's regular season finale at Washington.

The 14-year veteran sustained the injury in a game against Houston Nov. 5. He returned last Sunday against New Orleans, but aggravated the injury and was placed on injured reserve.

He said retirement was a distinct possibility if surgery was required.

"I was thinking about retirement before Tiki (Barber) was (but) I'm not ready," Strahan told WFAN Radio. "If I had to go through the rehab to try and be ready for August, then I don't know."

Strahan had 38 tackles and three sacks in nine games this year. He missed six games and his sacks total was the lowest since he made just one as a rookie in 1993.

Oklahoma loses Keith Clark to knee injury

NORMAN, Okla., Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Freshman forward Keith Clark of Oklahoma is done for the season because of torn ligaments in his right knee.

An MRI test Friday confirmed the damage.

Clark suffered the injury in the first half of the Sooners' 69-42 win against SMU Thursday night.

The 6-foot-8 inch native of Oklahoma City had per contest averages of 3.8 point and 2.3 rebounds in 11 games.

"This is a huge blow to our team," said Coach Jeff Capel on the school's Web site. "First of all, it's a big blow to Keith. He was just starting to play really well. I thought he had his best game of the year against Tulsa (Dec. 21) and played very well against SMU before he got hurt. He was making the jump to becoming a good college basketball player and I hate to see this happen to him."

Clark's recovery is expected to take four to six months.

Marlins sign Aaron Boone

MIAMI, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Veteran third baseman Aaron Boone, a free agent, Friday signed a one-year contract with the Florida Marlins.

He will back up young superstar Miguel Cabrera.

In nine career seasons with Cleveland, Cincinnati and the New York Yankees, Boone is a .264 hitter with 115 home runs and 499 RBI.

"He gives us that right-hand bat off the bench," said Marlins General Manager Larry Beinfest. "He can fill in at first and third, has some power, and gives us a little bit of experience off the bench, which we think is helpful."

Boone, 33, batted .251 with seven homers and 46 RBI in 104 games with Cleveland in 2006.

Florida learned Friday that shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who was the National League's Rookie of the Year in 2006, suffered a left shoulder strain in winter ball in the Dominican Republic.