Tiger Woods’ strength-sapping victory at the US Open on Monday has come at a heavy cost. The world number one will need to have further surgery on his left knee and is out for the rest of the season.
This means he will miss the final two majors of the year, the British Open at Royal Birkdale and the PGA Championship.
Woods said he had sustained a double stress fracture of his left tibia during his preparations for a return to the PGA Tour. The injury meant he could not play in the Memorial tournament and it was this ailment that caused him to wince in pain after many tee-shots at the Torrey Pines course in San Diego last week.
Woods played the US Open against doctors’ orders after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on April 15, just days after finishing second at the US Masters in Augusta, Georgia.
He teed off at Torrey Pines last Thursday in his first start since recovering from the operation and without even walking 18 holes.
To add to the toll on his knee, he was involved in a gruelling play-off with fellow American Rocco Mediate on Monday, eventually winning his 14th major title on the 91st hole.
He was quoted in an AP news bulletin as saying it was time for him to obey his doctors so that he doesn’t cause any more damage to the fragile knee. He said:
“Now, it is clear that the right thing to do is to listen to my doctors, follow through with this surgery and focus my attention on rehabilitating my knee.â€
If he holds true to his word, it means he will miss a major tournament for the first time in his career, going back to the 1997 Masters. He is also forced to withdraw from the US Ryder Cup team for their match against Europe in September.
I didn’t see much of the golf or the wincing that must have crossed Tiger’s face but he surprisingly didn’t seem to limp much while marching to victory. As a medico I was surprised that he didn’t have the patience to wait another year before tackling his ambitious schedule and it is a relief that he apparently was strongly advised to give his body time to heal. Pity he didn’t take it as he might end up with a nonhealing crack in the tibial plate and the rapid onset of osteoarthritis. The screws he may have to have (just keep your mind on medical matters) or even the knee replacement will almost certainly curtail what has so far been a stellar career. I hope he has learned that “doctors know best”.