Woods undergoing season-ending knee surgery

Tiger Woods’ stunning U.S. Open victory in a playoff over Rocco Mediate was followed by some even more stunning news: Woods is shutting it down for the remainder of the season to rehab a left knee that was more damaged than any of us knew.

Woods will have surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament, which he apparently ruptured after the 2007 British Open. He is also nursing a double stress fracture of his left tibia, which he said was discovered just before the Memorial in late May.

Woods broke the shocking story on his website today, two days after he wrapped up his 14th major title.

“I know much was made of my knee throughout the last week, and it was important to me that I disclose my condition publicly at an appropriate time,” Woods wrote. “I wanted to be very respectful of the USGA and their incredibly hard work, and make sure the focus was on the U.S. Open. 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.

“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. My doctors assure me with the proper rehabilitation and training, the knee will be strong and there will be no long-term effects.”

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