Tiger Woods has said that he has no idea when he will return to the circuit and also revealed that last month’s US Open would have been his final tournament of the year, whatever the outcome.
In his first live interview since undergoing surgery on his knee, the world number one and US Open champion has not put a timetable on his comeback.
After winning the US Open at Torrey Pines after a gruelling 19-hole play-off against Rocco Mediate, Woods underwent surgery to have the anterior cruciate ligament on his left knee reconstructed. He also had some cartilage repaired.
It was his second operation of the year, having had arthroscopic surgery days after finishing second in April’s US Masters. Upon being asked when he can play again, he said in an ESPN article:
“I really don’t know. We’ll have to see how this thing heals and everyone heals at a different rate. Some six months, some at nine and some at 12. To be honest with you, no one really knows until we start the rehab process and see how this thing goes.â€
Woods also explained that he sustained stress fractures while recuperating from the April surgery. It forced him to miss the Memorial tournament and it was at that point that he decided to make the US Open his final event of the year.
This probably explains why he was so determined to win it, going toe-to-toe with Mediate on the Monday despite the pain, finally winning it on the 19th hole.
“I basically couldn’t practice (with the stress fractres). Couldn’t play more than nine holes. After dealing with that, I decided to make the US Open my last event of this season, no matter how it turned out.â€
Woods was speaking in a conference call to promote the AT&T National near Washingont DC, a PGA Tour event he hosts but will not be able to attend.
