Tiger's Wounded Knee; Season Over

The wire services are reporting -- and his web site confirms -- this morning that Tiger Woods is going to have further surgery on his left knee and will miss the rest of the season, including the British Open, the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup. Although Woods himself has not issued a statement, sources close to Woods are suggesting that he needs ACL surgery and that he may have suffered a stress fracture on his left leg two week before winning the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Tiger could be seen grimacing numerous times during the course of the tournament, which he won in a 19-hole playoff with Rocco Mediate. If true, look for golf ratings on television and at tournaments to decline. Woods was due to play the Buick Open next week and his AT&T Invitatitional in Washington, D.C. the following week. Woods already has had three surgeries on his left knee and a fourth one certainly raises the possibility that it will be career shortening. The smart thing to do would be to get some professional advice, determine what he needs to do to get healthy, and go from there. Mr. Fairway has no cartilage in his left knee and bone wearing on bone makes it difficult to walk 18 holes. NFL players who undergo reconstructive ACL surgery often take 9-12 months -- or more -- to regain playing form. The odds of Woods overtaking Jack Nicklaus's record for 18 majors increase significantly.

Hitting range balls while wondering whatever happened to Mike Heinen.