It’s not like Tiger Woods to be cursing on the course and not winning The Masters. But we may now know why the golfer-formerly-known-as-Eldrick has been in such a funk:

Bad knees.

(The 7-iron doubles great as a walking cane)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS reports that Woods had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to repair cartilage damage. He underwent the joint work on Tuesday in Park City, Utah.

Unfortunately, Tiger’s a few months late for Sundance - or really really early, depending on how long he plans on sticking around.

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• LE BASKETBAWL finds at least one winner on the 10-39 T-Wolves, as Marko Jaric is apparently dating Victoria’s Secret model Adriana Lima:

• SOCCERLENS focuses in on the real goal for a successful World Cup in South Africa - legalizing prostitution.

• Jason Whitlock of the KANSAS CITY STAR wants his March Madness now, as he’s bored with the college b-ball regular season.

• THE BIG LEAD is rooting for Dudley Hart to win the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, considering he missed a lot of golf time caring for his lung cancer-stricken wife.

• FAN IQ’s 100% INJURY RATE suggests that if the Olympic discus toss doesn’t thrill you, why not try the live-goat-into-the-lions’-den toss?

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News worth repeating, now that your Giant hangover should be gone by now:

• Amani Toomer will have to go somewhere else for fun, now that the Pats’ victory parties are off.

• Although he watched from somewhere other than his team’s sideline, Jeremy Shockey sooth-sees a Giants repeat - as stated in a FHM spread from 2003.

• Best wishes to ESPN NFL reporter Len Pasquarelli, who had heart surgery last weekend.

• Phil Mickelson was having too much fun at the FBR Open to go to the Big Game, so he gave his tickets away.

• Tom Petty tries to one-up Prince in phallic halftime show symbolism.

• SI’s Arash Markazi breaks down all the Super Bowl parties you weren’t allowed to attend. Sadly though, Heidi Montag’s rack wasn’t ranked.

• Michael Vick will get to keep almost $20 million in bonus money from the Falcons. That’s an awful lot of prison cigarettes.

• Been hankering to see that “Perfectville” spot with Mercury Morris & the ‘72 Dolphins crew? Who hasn’t?!

The EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE has one of the feel-good stories of the day involving Phil Mickelson. While playing the FBR Open in Phoenix on Sunday, Mickelson gave a father and his son tickets to the Super Bowl. The two were following Mickelson’s round.

Call it the cynic in us, but it is interesting to note that Mickelson’s story was reported as well by the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. How do you figure those outlets found out about his random act of kindness? Probably from Mickelson himself. But that doesn’t diminish his generosity. It’s a very cool story.

NEXT ON HIS XMAS LIST: THE SPACE SHUTTLE (LOW MILES!) The ASSOCIATED PRESS finds out what to get the man who has everything, Tiger Woods, for Christmas.

Excerpt: “There aren’t many autographs he wants in return, but Woods recently got a prized possession — a baseball signed by Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax.“Woods on the landing a signed ball from the out-of-sight southpaw: “How about that? I’ve been a Dodger fan my entire life, and Koufax is the man.”

Woods, who rarely signs autographs himself except under the auspicies of Upper Deck, “asked an official at Upper Deck that if he ever ran into Koufax, would he ask for an autograph. The next time Woods saw him, the Upper Deck rep handed him a baseball.”Woods only other autograph? Signed boxing trunks (circa 1977) from Muhammad Ali. Woods: “I had never asked for any autograph ever, and I said to him, ‘Could you please sign anything, a paper, anything, please?’ He was shaking (from Parkinson’s Disease) and said, ‘I’ll take care of it.’ All of a sudden, I had a a pair of trunks. He said, ‘I won’t be needing these anymore.’ I’ve got those hanging on my wall.”

And hanging right next to that? A Phil Mickelson game-worn brassiere (sadly, unsigned).

MICKELSON TAKING HIS GAME TO CHINA FOR FUN & PROFIT: Phil Mickelson is hoping to cash in on his visit to China:

The LONDON TIMES swats us news of the large linksman taking a trip to the Far East for the HSBC Champions Tournament. Phil’s flying out in hopes of expanding the game of golf - and his money belt.Mickelson is venturing out of the U.S. in what he claims is an opportunity to promote his sport - and the nice, fat paychecks don’t hurt, either. Phil will be getting a generous appearance fee for showing up at the Sheshan Golf Club near Shanghai.

During the PGA season, stars like Mickelson and Tiger Woods are not allowed to get such fees on American courses. That’s why stars like Phil and Tiger got the PGA to shorten their season, which opens a larger window for overseas fortunes.Phil contends, “I’m making an effort to help globalize golf, but also giving my kids a global education.”

With the kind of dough Phil will be raking in, his kids could literally buy the college of their choice.