2008 Woodie Awards
Tiger Woods in 'kneed' of some down time after U.S. Open
Jeremy Fowler, Orlando Sentinel
Issue date: 6/19/08 Section: Sports
|
You crazy, Tiger Woods. I know, I know. Your one-track mind can't disconnect from your goal of breaking Jack Nicklaus' record and all, but you keep twisting and turning and hitting that darn cut shot. You know I hate that cut shot.
What you need to do is plop me on a couch and feed me that sweet, slow rehabilitation I love so much. Let's say you, me, Elin and Sam-heck, invite Stevie over-can watch Grey's Anatomy together. I never get to watch TV anyway. You're always "busy."
I know those clubs are tempting, but think about the pain I cause you when you keep ignoring my heart-I mean, cartilage. If you don't spend time with me now, I might betray you. For good. So text me back.
Yours attached forever,
Lefty (not the one you think)
That letter could be resonating through the hallways of Woods' Isleworth, Fla., home this week as he clutches his U.S. Open trophy. And with good reason.
Tiger's spent. You could see it on his warped face after Monday's historic 19-hole playoff win over Rocco Mediate to capture his third U.S. Open title. Might even be a little scared. Five days of grimacing from a bad wheel will do that to you. So Eldrick has decided to shut it down for a while to nurse his left knee, which underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove torn cartilage around his meniscus in mid-April. Woods has cited no timetable for a return, which might prompt the folks of the British Open in mid-July to check tigerwoods.com hourly for any updates.
Questions have lingered for the last month about the long-term effects of Woods' violent swing, coupled with a left knee that has seen three surgeries in Woods' career. The first two were minor, but this could be the first major step in Woods' scale-back schedule.
Think his 15 or 16 PGA Tour events per year aren't often enough? The knee might cut that in half if it doesn't heal correctly.
Nike ushered in Woods 12 years ago with those "Hello, world" commercials, but a new slogan should read, "See you when I see you." This is the cost of preserving the chase of history with a long-term investment.
Be the first to comment on this story