Tiger shutting it down

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

According to the Golf Channel this morning, they are reporting that Tiger Woods is going to have major knee surgery and will not play golf again this season.

"He experienced a small stress fracture in his left leg about two weeks before the U.S. Open, which was causing him the pain, and ultimately the doctors feel that he needs ACL surgery and rest to get him back to 100%."

No PGA Championship, No Open Championship. . .No FedEx Cup. What a shame.

It makes his win over the weekend all that more impressive.

[Troy Hood]

For selfish reasons, that's not good news. Tiger was supposed to play in the BMW Championship here in St. Louis at Bellerive CC in September. That's going to have a negative effect on the draw.

I'm sure everyone else that expects Tiger to show up this season is feeling the same way.

That said, I echo Dr. Stockton in saying that his accomplishment this past weekend was all the more impressive for overcoming the injury. It makes you think what would have been had he been healthy.

[CATLAX MAN]

From the AP:

Tiger Woods will miss the rest of the season because of surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee, an injury he has been dealing with the last 10 months despite winning nine of 12 tournaments.

Woods also said he suffered a double stress fracture of his left tibia while preparing to return to the PGA Tour last month, which forced him to miss the Memorial and was the source of his pain at Torrey Pines when he won the U.S. Open.

He had arthroscopic surgery April 15 to clean out cartilage in his left knee, bypassing ACL surgery with hopes it could get him through the 2008 season. But going 91 holes for his 14th career major made it impossible to play any longer.

Not only was he playing with a torn ligament, but also a double stress fracture. Do you thing Jack could have done that, Jason?

[laxfan25]

When he was wincing after his drive on the first hole this weekend I thought there was a chance that he might have to even withdraw from the Open. Pretty gutsy performance, but what was even more impressive were the clutch putts he made when he absolutely had to have them. His dad wasn't kidding when he said that he'd never find someone tougher than he.
The only sad thing are all of the kids that are going to be denied a normal life by the multitude of dads that will attempt to produce the next Tiger. You know it's going to happen.

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

Not only was he playing with a torn ligament, but also a double stress fracture. Do you thing Jack could have done that, Jason?

You must be speaking of Jack Youngblood, who played an NFL game with a broken leg. . .so yes, I'm sure Jack could have done that. ACL tear, no problem.

[Timbalaned]

In Jack's day a torn ACL was probably a done career. They ripped so much cartilage and stuff out he would have never walked right again, let alone played championship quality golf.

[KnoxVegas]

For selfish reasons, that's not good news.

Tell me about it!

[Ryan Hanavan]

Put an asterisk next to The Open champion, PGA champion and FedEx Cup champion.... The coast is clear fellas, you can all come out again, for a little while at least.

Too bad to see him go down. Ratings differences on events when Tiger is in the mix vs. no Tiger are pretty significant. I just hope he can recover and return at a level similar to where he was. I hope we don't have to come back to this in years to come speculating on what could have been. Some of these ridiculous runs of wins started to make you wonder if he could surpass Byron Nelson's 11 wins in a row, and potentially all 4 majors. We shall see I guess.

[KnoxVegas]

Do each of these champions deserve an asterisk?

The Masters Tournament
1998 Mark O'Meara
1999 José María Olazábal
2000 Vijay Singh
2003 Mike Weir
2004 Phil Mickelson
2006 Phil Mickelson
2007 Zach Johnson
2008 Trevor Immelman

US Open
2001 Retief Goosen
2003 Jim Furyk
2004 Retief Goosen
2005 Michael Campbell
2006 Geoff Ogilvy
2007 Ángel Cabrera

The Open Championship
2001 David Duval
2002 Ernie Els
2004 Todd Hamilton
2008 Pádraig Harrington

PGA Championship
2001 David Toms
2002 Rich Beem
2003 Shaun Micheel
2004 Vijay Singh
2005 Phil Mickelson

Which do each of them have in common? Each of these champions won a Major following Tiger's first victory in each tournament (Master in 1997, U.S. Open, The Open & PGA in 2000). Also, Tiger was in each of these tournaments, so that means that Tiger lost each of these tournaments to someone.

Talk of an asterisk being added to a Major champion because Tiger was not in the field needs to be directed to Ford Frick. There are other talented people on the PGA Tour and hopefully they will now show themselves without Tiger.

[Ryan Hanavan]

Do each of these champions deserve an asterisk?

Just Zack Johnson, something about those shades tucked backwards on his head. That is asterisk worthy!

Will 4 wins in 6 stars with a major be good enough for golfer of the year?

John Hawkins just said "There is no asterisks in golf" on the 19th hole while I write this so I think the case is closed....except for Zack Johnson....

Who are the new favorites for the last two majors of the year? fedex cup?

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

And don't forget the Ryder Cup. . .not that Tiger has been dominant in the Ryder Cup, but now an extra slot is open for the taking.

Personally, I hope Woody Austin finds his way in. . .

And there is NO WAY Tiger wins player of the year. Yes, he won 5 of the 7 events he played, and finished 2nd at Augusta and 5th at Doral in his two non-wins. Unbelievable start, but just not enough golf.

[Zamboni_Driver]

So somebody help me figure out these two statements that I've heard in the media over the last 3 days:

(paraphrased, of course)

After the Open: "Woods just beat the greatest golfers in the world on 1 leg"

After Tiger dropped out: "Now we're forced to watch JV golf"

So did Tiger beat great golfers or did he beat JV golfers??

[KnoxVegas]

Where did the quotes come from?

As for Tiger and the Ryder Cup, he would not have made a difference. The US is set for yet another lose at the hands of the Europeans this September at Valhalla.

[Dr. Jason Stockton]

As for Tiger and the Ryder Cup, he would not have made a difference. The US is set for yet another lose at the hands of the Europeans this September at Valhalla.

As a huge golf fan. . .that's a depressing thought. Realistic I know, but depressing nonetheless.

You don't even give the U.S. a puncher's chance at Valhalla? Beyond the usual suspects (Phil, Furyk, etc.). . . do you think a few gritty veterans and 40-somethings like Austin, Perry (captain's picks?) with a few of the young talent like AK and Weekley have a chance?

[Dan Wishengrad]

We have a chance, Jason, but those Europeans have consistently proven that they are better at match play than we are. I'd bet on Europe successfully defending the Ryder Cup again...