How Tiger Woods Plays Golf
Thursday, June 19, 2008
(Photo by Chris O'Meara - AP) For More Yards, I "Snap" My Left Leg: When I need an extra 20 yards, I incorporate a special move in my lower body just before impact. I've found that by snapping my left leg straight, my hips clear faster and speed up the movement of my shoulders, arms and legs. This is an unorthodox move meant solely for power. . . . For extra distance, I straighten that left leg as quickly as I can on the through-swing. -- Tiger Woods in "How I Play Golf"
PLAYING THROUGH PAIN Tiger Woods has won 10 of the 13 tournaments he has entered since injuring his knee after last year's British Open:
NOTABLE EVENTS HE'LL MISS | Tournament | Result | To Par |
| WGC-Bridgestone Invitational | Won | -8 |
| PGA Championship | Won | -8 |
| Deutsche Bank Championship | T2 | -14 |
| BMW Championship | Won | -22 |
| Tour Championship | Won | -23 |
| Target World Challenge | Won | -22 |
| Buick Invitational | Won | -19 |
| Dubai Desert Classic | Won | -14 |
| WGC-Accenture Match Play | Won | -- |
| Arnold Palmer Invitational | Won | -10 |
| WGC-CA Championship | 5 | -15 |
| The Masters | 2 | -5 |
| U.S. Open | Won | -1 |
| Tournament | Wins |
| AT&T National | 0 |
| British Open | 3 |
| PGA Championship | 4 |
| Ryder Cup | 10-13-2* |
| Tour Championship | 2 |
While playing as an amateur, forced to withdraw during the second round of U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills because of a wrist injury.
October 1999
Had a stinger in his left wrist when he tried to hit through a softball-size rock at the Tour Championship in Houston.
January 2001
Sprained a ligament in his left knee before the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am when a fan accidentally tripped him while trying to get an autograph.
June 2001
Had a strained Achilles' tendon during the U.S. Open at Southern Hills.
December 2002
Had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to remove fluid inside and outside the anterior cruciate ligament and to remove benign cysts. Woods had surgery on the same knee in 1994 to remove a benign tumor.
Late July/Early August 2007
Tore the ACL in his left knee while jogging at his home. He did not publicly disclose this injury until yesterday.
April 2008
Had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to repair cartilage damage. The surgery was performed in Park City, Utah, by Thomas Rosenberg, who also operated on the knee in 2002.
May 2008
Doctors discovered a double stress fracture to his left tibia and attributed it to his intense rehabilitation and preparation for the U.S. Open.
June 18, 2008
Announced he will undergo reconstructive ACL surgery and also will need the time off to allow the stress fractures to heal.
Sources: TigerWoods.com, Associated Press, Golf Digest
