The Golf Channel is reporting that Tiger Woods, according to its sources, will have another knee surgery and sit out the remainder of the year.
Woods reportedly experienced a small stress fracture in his left leg about two weeks before the U.S. Open, which was causing him the pain during that memorable victory, and his doctors feel that he needs ACL surgery and rest to get him back to 100 percent.
The story adds that Tiger is upbeat about this and expects to be fully healthy by the start of 2009.
Woods grimaced and limped often during the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, and many questioned whether he risked making his knee injury worse by playing – especially in that the tournament went 91 holes. He played against doctor's orders.
"The amount of pain Tiger played in and his lack of preparation defy belief," Woods' coach, Hank Haney, said. "He just decided that he was going to do whatever he had to do to get the job done."
So what does this mean for the PGA Tour and golf bettors at WagerWeb.com?
Obviously his chase of Jack Nicklaus' major championship record of 18 wins is on hold, with Woods missing next month's British Open as well as the PGA Championship, where he is the defending champ. Tiger also will miss this fall's Ryder Cup, an event in which he has struggled. Europe will be an even bigger favorite to win the Cup again now. You can also bet that Woods will be trimming back on the non-major tournaments he enters. He had been trimming back his tournament obligations even before the knee required surgery this spring. He played 26
tournaments worldwide in 2005, 21 in 2006 and 17 last year. And, in each of the last two years, Woods played his fewest PGA Tour events -- 15 -- since turning pro.
Look for Tiger to play in the tournaments that involve his sponsors (i.e. Buick), his own tournament (the AT&T), the four majors and all the WGC events. That might be it.
"He'll be around for a long, long time," Charlie Kammerer, publisher of Golf Magazine, told the L.A. Times. "But he's clearly going to focus on his commitments to the Buick, the majors, his own tournament, and then he'll cherry-pick a few more tournaments."
While the Tour will survive this season, the TV networks will take the biggest hit by far. This news comes on the heels of NBC recording its best Monday golf broadcast rating in 30 years, and ESPN getting the most-viewed golf telecast in cable TV history.
On the bright side, perhaps bettors can now make some money on golf wagering. Tiger was such an overwhelming favorite to win every event that it almost wasn't worth your time. Now you really need to do your homework.
Bet on golf at WagerWeb.com
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