Singh to miss next three PGA Tour events after knee surgery

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Vijay Singh expects to be sidelined from the PGA Tour for the next three weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, the world number five said on Thursday.

The Fijian tore his meniscus before winning last month''s Chevron World Challenge, the tournament in California hosted by Tiger Woods, and was advised to have it repaired.

"The doctor says I''ll be on crutches for a few days and then I''ll be okay," Singh, 45, said in a statement.

"I don''t consider this a big setback or anything. I think the knee will be much stronger in the long run and it is certainly better that it happened now compared to the middle of the season."

Singh had surgery on Wednesday in Jacksonville, Florida and hopes to be back on the PGA Tour for the February 12-15 Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

"I should be out for three weeks and I am planning to play (in the) AT&T," he said.

A three times major champion, Singh has triumphed 34 times on the PGA Tour.

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Ken Ferris)