GOLF’S GREAT BLACK HOPE “Tiger Woods is hurting, but the TV networks may share his pain.The reigning U.S. Open golf champ announced Tuesday that he will undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee. … He will be off the course for six to eight months, missing at least the remainder of this season, including the British Open, the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup. There is arguably no athlete so closely tied to the ratings success of his sport than Woods. And his departure is a tough pill to swallow for those networks hoping to cash in on the excitement and ratings he brought to NBC in his 91-hole win over Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines on Monday. The extra 19 holes garnered a 7.6 household rating/20 share (from 2-4:45 p.m. ET) for the Peacock, a 90% increase over the last time an extra round was needed in the U.S. Open and the highest Monday numbers in 30 years. When the players reached the 18th hole, the numbers peaked at an 11.5 rating/21 share. … Also, the portion of the Open playoff on ESPN was the most-watched golf telecast in cable TV history, drawing 4.7 million viewers.”