On 24 June 2008, just a few days on from hobbling to his sensational US Open win over unfancied journeyman Rocco Mediate, Tiger Woods underwent reconstructive surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). According to his doctors, the surgery was a success—and millions of golf fans breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Tiger initially injured his knee while jogging last July after the British Open. He continued to play (with 7 consecutive wins to boot!) but his knee worsened, with the cartilage becoming damaged as well. This past April, he underwent arthroscopic surgery to clean out some of the cartilage damage, after which two stress fractures were also found on his left shinbone. Now, after his fourth left knee surgery (he had a benign tumor removed in 1994 and a benign cyst removed in 2002), Tiger is on the road to recovery.
While the golf world is abuzz with the effect his absence will have on the game, many are also wondering: what in the world is an ACL and is golf bad for my knees too?
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