Roundup: Tiger's Back "Procedure" Sends Him To Bed For Rest
/Jason Sobel, working off of the usual Friday afternoon TigerWoods.com report, says Tiger has presented no timetable for a return after a back "procedure" by Charles Rich, the same doctor who performed the two prior (unsuccessful) surgeries. Apparently the definition of insanity apparently doesn't apply to surgery decisions.
Anyway, there was this oddball quote:
Woods, in a story on his website, said there remains no timetable for his return to competition.
"It's one of those things that had to be done," he said. "I have an outstanding team of doctors, and I'll be back as soon as I can."
Let's skip the doctor discussion for a moment and focus on the 2016 golf season, which sounds in doubt.
Bob Harig wonders if this is the case and also questions the severity of the latest setback since Tiger is skipping a press conference next week to promote his Hero World Challenge. Even more telling, is passing up next week's opening of his Bluejack National redesign in Houston.
Dr. Charles Rich was quoted as saying that Woods was doing well and would make a full recovery, but Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, declined to comment further. What did the procedure entail? What is different about this recovery?
It can't be good that Woods will be unable to attend a scheduled media day for his Hero World Challenge event on Wednesday, nor the opening to a golf course he designed in Houston the following day. The release said he is on bed rest.
Reading Brian Wacker's report and the accompanying list of Tiger's injuries is pretty somber stuff if you want to see one of the greats make one last run.
Now, I understand Tiger is very loyal to his doctors. After all, he had Dr. Leo Spaceman fly down from Canada 14 times and an assistant make another 49 visits for in house platelet rich spinning sessions he could have gotten at any sports medicine clinic. Or in Germany.
But a few random questions at this point:
--How do you return to the doctor after the first surgery for a check up, only to be on the operating table for a "quick turnaround" surgery? No second opinion?
--How do you return to the same doctor after the first and second unsuccessful surgeries and allow him to put you on the operating table for a third "procedure" that leaves you resting in bed?
--Is the stress of a looming $54 million payment to ex wife Elin inflicting stress on the back here that no surgery will ever be able to remedy?