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The Truth About Tiger Woods' KneeDocs Say No.1 Golfer Played 91 Holes Too Many Since Apr.15 SurgeryTiger Woods revealed three days after he won the U.S. Open golf championship on a lame knee that doctors had warned him playing in the Open might cost him further injury.
Woods, the No.1 ranked golfer in the world, went against his doctor's advice to play in the U.S. Open, which turned into a 91-hole playoff marathon that took its toll on Woods' ailing left knee. Performing miracle shots in a man of iron show, Woods won the Open on the 91st hole, cupping a par that beat challenger Rocco Mediate by one stroke. It was the 19th hole of a playoff round that became necessary when Woods birdied on the final stroke of regulation play to force the extra day of links. Knee Injury Occurred Last JulyWoods entered the playoff round still suffering from the pain of a small tear in the knee's ligament that had occurred as long ago as July of last year. The arthroscopic surgery he underwent on Apr.15 was to remove cartilage. After the Open four-day affair, Woods stated that doctors had told him the knee wasn't ready to withstand the extra strain the golfer puts on it with each muscled swing of his club. Their advice was intended to persuade Woods to sit out the U.S. Open, but Woods, being the competitor he is, waved off the suggestion. It wasn't until the Open was concluded that he admitted to the knee being a problem since last season, and that the most recent surgery in April didn't address the ligament tear. Since Apr.15, Woods has been absent from the links, recovering from the cartilage surgery. Doctors then, he says, warned him about playing too soon, specifically in the U.S. Open the second week in June, because the ligament needed more time to heal properly. Out for the Rest of 2008Irreparable damage could result from returning to his strenuous game too soon, Woods' doctors told him. Now, having stressed the damaged ligament to dangerous proportions, Woods is off the PGA Tour for the remainder of this season. The total problem with his knee must be addressed, doctors reiterated. With the U.S. Open championship in his pocket, his 14th major victory, Woods is ready to act on his doctors' advice. The Open win has put him just four behind leader Jack Nicklaus in all-time number of major wins on the PGA Tour by a single player. Record for All SeasonsWoods won the U.S. Open on Torrey Pines municipal course at San Diego, a location of some 90 miles from where he grew up. He cut his teeth on the course. The Open championship is the third of his career, and at age 32 he is one Open title behind the likes of Nicklaus, Willie Anderson, Ben Hogan, and the immortal Bobby Jones. Woods won his other two Open championships at Pebble Beach and Bethpage, also public courses. Woods will not play again before the 2009 season, and he must undergo complete rehabilitation for the torn up knee before he can begin swinging his clubs again.
The copyright of the article The Truth About Tiger Woods' Knee in PGA Tour is owned by BarbaraAnne Helberg. Permission to republish The Truth About Tiger Woods' Knee in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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