Tiger Woods Out For Rest Of The Season

Injured Left Knee Will Require More Surgery, Woods Will Miss The First Major Tournament Of His Career

(CBS/ AP)  Tiger Woods walked tenderly out of Torrey Pines Golf Course with a U.S. Open trophy he was destined to win on a left leg worse than anyone imagined. A group of children called out to him and Woods looked over and waved.

It turned out to be a most symbolic gesture.

So long, Tiger.

See you next year.

Woods revealed on Wednesday he has been playing for at least 10 months with a torn ligament in his left knee, and that he suffered a double stress fracture in his left leg two weeks before the U.S. Open. He said he will have season-ending surgery, knocking him out of the final two majors and the Ryder Cup.

"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," Woods said on his Web site.

He sure wasn't listening to doctors by playing the U.S. Open, a victory that now looks even more impressive.

"It was stunning news," said CBS Sports broadcaster Jim Nantz. "I think now you'll look back at what he did and you just almost can't believe he could win the United States Open on one leg."

The month before the U.S. Open, Woods was in Florida when doctors told him the preferred treatment for stress fractures was three weeks on crutches and three more weeks of doing nothing, reports CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian.

Hank Haney, his swing coach, was with Woods during the conversation. According to Haney, Woods looked at the doctor and said: "I'm playing the U.S. Open, and I'm going to win."

"And then he started putting on his shoes," Haney recalled. "He looked at me and said, 'Come on, Hank. We'll just putt today.' Every night, I kept thinking there was no chance he's going to play. He had to stop in his tracks for 30 seconds walking from the dining room table to the refrigerator.

"He was not going to miss the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. There just wasn't any discussion."

And it was a U.S. Open that will be talked about for years.

Despite a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a double stress fracture, Woods managed to win a major that required five days of flinching, grimacing and a long list of spectacular shots that have defined his career.

He went 91 holes on a leg that got worse with each day, finally defeating Rocco Mediate on the 19th hole of a playoff.

"When I talk about golf, he doesn't count," Mediate said on Monday after the playoff. "He's not normal."

Woods, 32, did not say when he would have surgery, but he canceled a clinic that was scheduled for Tuesday at Comerica Park in Detroit. Haney said the typical recovery is six to eight months. This will be Woods' third surgery in five months on his left knee.

"There will be debate whether he rushed back for the U.S. Open," said Mark Steinberg, his agent at IMG. "But I don't think there will be any debate that he rushes back from his next surgery. He won't need to. Augusta is in April."

Woods first went to Haney toward the end of 2002 to overhaul a violent swing that was putting enormous pressure on his left knee. Haney suspects the pain has been increasing, and Woods stopped hitting balls after his rounds at last year's British Open.

"He's been playing way less than 100 percent for a long, long, time," Haney said. "It has limited him a lot in practice. He's going to come back better than he's ever been."

Woods was already plenty good, with 65 victories that rank third all-time on the U.S. PGA Tour, and 14 professional majors that are second only to the record 18 won by Jack Nicklaus. This is the 500th week Woods has been ranked No. 1 in the world.

Even in his abbreviated 2008 season, he won five of seven tournaments worldwide. Dating to the discovery of the torn ACL, Woods won nine of 12 tournaments, including two majors, and never finished lower than fifth.

"While I am obviously disappointed to have to miss the remainder of the season, I have to do the right thing for my long-term health and look forward to returning to competitive golf when my doctors agree that my knee is sufficiently healthy," Woods said. "My doctors assure me with the proper rehabilitation and training, the knee will be strong and there will be no long-term effects."

Woods will miss a major for the first time in his career - the British Open next month at Royal Birkdale and the U.S. PGA Championship, where Woods is the two-time defending champion, in August at Oakland Hills in Michigan.

Woods also will miss the Ryder Cup in September, meaning the ninth player in the U.S. standings will qualify for the team. Coincidentally, Woods had mathematically clinched a spot on the team by winning the U.S. Open.

"We sent him flowers for winning the U.S. Open. Now I wish I had put in a note of condolences," U.S. captain Paul Azinger quipped. "But this is not about Tiger and the Ryder Cup. It's about Tiger getting better and his march to history."

The majors won't miss Woods nearly as much as the U.S. PGA Tour and the networks that televise it - especially in the second year of the FedEx Cup, which Woods won in a landslide last year. The so-called "Tiger Effect" translates to a 29 percent increase in TV ratings when he's in the hunt for a win, and that means tens of millions of revenue, reports Keteyian.

He still might be leading the points race in August leading to the playoffs. Even with Woods no longer playing for the rest of the year, he will keep his spot in the playoff events for which he is eligible.

"Tiger is our tour," Kenny Perry said from the Travelers Championship, which starts on Thursday in Connecticut. "When you lose your star player, it definitely hurts."

U.S. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said his concern was for Woods' health and well being.

"We wish him the best toward a speedy recovery," he said.

Woods is private about his health and personal life, never more so than at the just-completed U.S. Open. He didn't say anything about the torn ACL or the stress fractures, and wouldn't say how he was treating it, only that it was more sore as the week went on.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was when the injury first happened.

Woods said he tore the ACL while jogging at home after the British Open last July. He played on, going on a streak that included seven consecutive victories, including the Dubai Desert Classic in Europe and his Target World Challenge, an unofficial event.

He did not play overseas late last year for the first time since 2003, hopeful that rest could allow him to play more this year. But the pain intensified through the Masters, where he finished second, and Woods said the cartilage damage developed from the ACL injury.

He bypassed surgery on the torn ligament on April 15, hopeful that by cleaning out the cartilage he could make it through the year. What he didn't anticipate were the stress fractures as he tried to get ready for the Memorial.

"The stress fractures that were discovered just prior to the tournament unfortunately prevented me from participating and had a huge impact on the timing for my return," Woods said. "I was determined, though, to do everything and anything in my power to play in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, which is a course that is close to where I grew up and holds many special memories for me."

Woods won for the eighth time at the public golf course in San Diego - a U.S. Open, a record six times at the Buick Invitational, and a Junior World Championship as a teenager.

He called his U.S. Open victory "probably the best ever."

On Wednesday, he explained why.

[brianbwb-2009]

Goosen has a history of publicly displayed Woods envy, which makes it even all the sweeter to know that Tiger can beat him regularly on one leg.

[andie_rooney]

A long time ago Jane Curtain used to begin Saturday Night Live''s "Weekend Update" with these words:

"Good evening, I''m Jane Curtin. Here now the news. Our TOP STORY TONIGHT..."

Tonight, Russ Mitchell opened the CBS Evening News with a story about a GOLFER who needs KNEE SURGERY.

That the golfer is "Tiger Woods" is evidently what propelled this story to the top of the news.

It''s a stunning example of how far the once proud "Tiffany" network has fallen from the days before news became info-tainment. William S. Paley, Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite must be rolling over in their graves.

No wait, Cronkite''s not dead - that''s him doing the opening voiceover intros. Cronkite is lending his authoritative voice to something that could use more than just his voice.

CBS News executives don''t need knee surgery, but that may need BRAIN surgery.

Oh, wait, Sean McManus, head of CBS is also the head of CBS Sports. So THAT explains it!

As that other SNL character, Emily Litella (Gilda Radner) used to say on Saturday Night Live:
"Never Mind!"

[barbaraf4]

Tiger is to be commended for enduring this much pain for his sport. His focus and self-discipline are the mark of a true champion.

Since the PGA requires all competitors to WALK the course rather than use golf carts, Tiger had no other choice if he planned to compete. Certainly a golf cart would have made his life a little easier for the past months.

Tiger, good luck on your recovery.

[Latrocinor]

A Master Mind Obsessed With Perfection

By Shirley Povich
Washington Post Columnist
Saturday, July 26 1997; Page C01

...In February of 1949, the entire country was rooting for Ben Hogan, but not because of his golf game. Driving from Phoenix to their home in Fort Worth with his wife, Valerie, a skidding bus suddenly crossed into their lane. Before the crash, Hogan flung himself in front of Valerie, who suffered only minor injuries. Hogan? Double fracture of the pelvis, broken collarbone, left ankle and right rib.

Would Ben Hogan play golf again? Within six months, in an incredible comeback that aroused the admiration of the nation, Hogan came back on his faltering legs, and tied Sam Snead in the Los Angeles Open. It mattered little to his fans that he lost the playoff. But five months later, there he was at Merion, Pa., for the U.S. Open, throwing a 69 at Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio that got him into a playoff that he won with a stiff-legged round of 69...."

[Latrocinor]

There was a golfer whose left ankle broke during a swing at the British Open a few years ago. These guys have clubhead speeds approaching (and in some cases exceeding) 130 mph at impact, so you can well imagine the amount of force required to accelerate an object from 0 to 130 in something less than 1 second.

Posted by Charlieot
.. .. ..

WOW!. I had no idea at all. This was a very eye opening story.

To accurately concentrate that kind of 100% effort on a teeny contact spot between club-head and ball using the entire body is mind boggling. Too see the ball ending up in putting range from several hundred yards away - phenomenal muscular and coordination abilities.

I get to watch these actions and results and appreciate it even more now.

[Latrocinor]

You reference FOX news in a negative way, so I can only assume you are an Obama supporter, and that is the reason you disparage others so easily by calling them morons. Very impolite.

Posted by dowell100
.. .. ..

I suspect they are being kind and understated and not wanting to call you an ignorant racist bigot that is vigorously pounding a racial drum for no good reason.

I think they show remarkable restraint addressing an off-topic racist poster.

[Latrocinor]

a conceited dikhead about it

Posted by SgtStedenko
.. .. .. ..

Congratulations on your great contribution to the world of golf, sports, our society and helping to make the world a better place.

[apprxam]

All of those cry-baby, Tiger-hating, PGA Tour golfers. Because of Tiger, 99 of them made at least one million dollars in prize money, and the 130th made over seven-hundred dollars last year, 2007.

He''s beating them one leg and in serious pain. Goosen and the other cry-babies will have paid for the homes and trophy wives because of the money he brings in.

The PGA and TV is going to find out just how under-paid he is and then I hope the complaints stop.

[oneworldusa]

Posted by godofredo29 at 05:04 PM : Jun 18, 2008

-LOL! I broke an ankle golfing on hole 4. Still finished my round though, thought I would ''walk it off''. It was like a basketball the next day, so I went in for Xray and it was broken.... It can happen.

[donbl1]

This will probably push us over the edge into recession.

[charlieot]

Someday golfers will discover real strength training. I mean, stress fractures from golfing? Weight training would take care of that.

Posted by godofredo29 at 05:04 PM : Jun 18, 2008

BTW...
at approximately 190lbs,Tiger benches somewhere in the vicinity of 400lbs...
While not all golfers utilize strentgh training, this guy is an absolute monster. Michael Jordan was quoted as saying his back and shoulders rival an NFL linebacker''s...

[charlieot]

Someday golfers will discover real strength training. I mean, stress fractures from golfing? Weight training would take care of that.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by godofredo29 at 05:04 PM : Jun 18, 2008

The stress fractures occurred running.

[charlieot]

slim1h20 and bhoogren,

The stresses on one''s body at professional levels are incredible...
A proper golf swing generates (relatively) massive amounts of torque through twisting motions using the back, legs and and shoulders. The right leg acts as a brace on the backswing, but the real stress is on the left leg which absorbs virtually all the force of the swing through impact. There was a golfer whose left ankle broke during a swing at the British Open a few years ago. These guys have clubhead speeds approaching (and in some cases exceeding) 130 mph at impact, so you can well imagine the amount of force required to accelerate an object from 0 to 130 in something less than 1 second.

[dowell100]

Posted by mitchoncbs
dowell100, only a moron like you will compare the two. Tiger is a mixed race, so what. He is and will always be the best golfer ever. Achieving what he has done in the short time he has been a professional will never be duplicated again, well, in our lifetime that is. Why not take your moronic statements where they belong, and that is on FOX news.

---------------------------

Well, since you brought it up, Obama is mixed race too, so there is one comparison you failed to see.

One is a beloved Golfer and race is not an issue with him ot anyone.

The other is a divisive politician, and people say that if you don''t like him you are a racist.

What''s wrong with that picture?

Race should not be an issue in either politics or sports, but the politican is making it an issue.

You reference FOX news in a negative way, so I can only assume you are an Obama supporter, and that is the reason you disparage others so easily by calling them morons. Very impolite.

[godofredo29]

Someday golfers will discover real strength training. I mean, stress fractures from golfing? Weight training would take care of that.

[j_flood]

C''mon Tiger - do what the docs say, take the time and we''ll see ya in 2009 - fit and ready to go!

Besides, you''ve 4 more majors to win..........

All the best and get well!

[Latrocinor]

All you political morons need to go congregate like flies in your cesspool somewhere else.
.. .. ..

This is CBS - if you want disciplined neighbors with good manners and rational outlook you are in the wrong place.

dowell100, only a moron like you will compare the two. Tiger is a mixed race, so what. He is and will always be the best golfer ever. Achieving what he has done in the short time he has been a professional will never be duplicated again, well, in our lifetime that is. Why not take your moronic statements where they belong, and that is on FOX news.

[Latrocinor]

I had no idea the human body was subjected to such stress in the sport of golf.

Apparently at the professional level the stresses can cause injuries.

I wish Mr. Woods a speedy and successful recovery and congratulations on his top level achievements made under these physical challenges.

[dowell100]

Posted by shanev137 at 03:13 PM : Jun 18, 2008
I can''''''''t believe how many complete idiots there are on these posting boards.

This is a board about Tiger Woods...not McCain and Obama.

All you political morons need to go congregate like flies in your cesspool somewhere else.


-------------

Harsh attack, but the censors have left it up, shanev137.

But the fact of the matter is Tiger is beloved and his race is not an issue. Obama is not loved but if you don''t like him you are considered a racist.

This strange dichotomy has a place in discussions about sports and politics.