No Mas!!!!!!!!
May 12th 2011 20:25
Article from ESPN's Bob Harig
The "minor" knee and Achilles injuries that kept Tiger Woods from playing and practicing since the Masters ended up limiting his appearance at The Players Championship to nine holes.
Woods withdrew after shooting an ugly 6-over 42 at TPC Sawgrass, where he took a triple-bogey 7 on the fourth hole and was clearly limping before shutting down his round.
"I'm having a hard time walking," Woods said after his half-round. He hit only one green in regulation and made no birdies.
It is the second straight year that Woods had to withdraw during the PGA Tour's signature event but just the fourth time in his professional career that he has withdrawn from a tournament after starting it.
"Tiger looked like he was in pain today," playing partner Matt Kuchar said after he shot an opening-round 69. "[It] looked like he was walking quite slowly, quite gingerly. ... He was just last to get to his ball every time."
In last year's Players, only his third event after taking a monthlong break to deal with personal issues, Woods withdrew seven holes into the final round with a neck issue.
This time, Woods was unable to make it to the 10th tee, and given his lack of preparation and the way he looked, it was not surprising. He winced on several tee shots.
"The knee acted up and then the Achilles followed after that and then the calf started cramping up," Woods said. "Everything started getting tight, so it's just a whole chain reaction."
Woods has had four operations on his left knee, including a reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament just a week after he won the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. It was there where Woods competed after having not played since the Masters. It was later learned that he was playing with a broken bone in his left leg as well.
Woods said Thursday that he injured his left knee while attempting to hit a shot from pine straw during the third round of the Masters last month. He also injured his left Achilles that day -- not the same Achilles he hurt in 2008-09 -- but shot 67 during the final round to tie for fourth.
| 29 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
