Tiger WDs from Firestone Event

[iacas]

Guys, I had the same surgery as Tiger did. Had it in 1992. I think I know a little bit about how this type of injury goes as time goes by. What happened with Tiger today has a high probability of being one of two things. 1) His disc herniation left him in a state of health where the two vertebrae are close enough together that you can compress the spine enough to where they touch. This causes serious inflammation and pain, and that pain radiates and disables you. OR 2) The vertebrea are not touching at all. The issue isn't even structural. In this case what can be happening is that because Tiger had the prior injury he is now walking and maybe even standing differently. If he is the way I was he may be doing a ton of stretches to pull the verts as far apart as possible (think inversion therapy). Well, what can happen in this situation is you place new stresses on lower back muscles that have never been there before. Do it long enough and those muscles spasm. This is where the "it is in a different spot" comes to mind. Once the muscles spasm it feels like "its the entire lower back".  My bet is that it is this latter scenario in play. The good news is that this is not permanent in and of itself, and furthermore can be fixed in a few days with site injections. The bad news, if this has indeed occurred, it is a condition that tends to re occur every so often. You tend to end up looking just as Tiger looked today, and then a week or two later you are fine when everything calms down. Been there, done that, for 20 years.

Or 3) he just tweaked it like golfers do from time to time.

[colin007]

It could just be that he tweaked his lower back. I've done that, it's excruciating for two days and then it starts to go away. Hoping that's the case.

[9iron]

Or 3) he just tweaked it like golfers do from time to time.

Sure. Probably just a total coincidence coming right off his back surgery. Not related in any way at all.

[ChrisP]

I hope it's just a back tweak......and if it was, that looked like the most painful back tweak I've ever seen because you could see it in his face....he was in excruciating pain.

[jamo]

Sure. Probably just a total coincidence coming right off his back surgery. Not related in any way at all.

He did say the pain was in a different spot. Take it or leave it, I guess.

[skydog]

Really bad week for American golf between this and DJ's suspension.

Watching Tiger warm up on the range this morning (prior to re-injury), the biggest thing that concerned me was how bad his driver swing looked. He couldn't get anywhere near parallel and looked like he was trying to trap a 7 iron...didn't look anything like a good driver swing. Complete opposite of Rory's unbelievable driver swing with the way he hits up on the ball from the ground up and generates incredible power. For the sake of the tour, I hope this injury isn't serious but regardless, he's got to be able to swing the driver more freely if he's going to get competitive. Hard to know if it was still injury limitations or if that's just what his body his giving him at this point.

[zipazoid]

Jack's record looking safer.

[9iron]

He did say the pain was in a different spot. Take it or leave it, I guess.

It could be in a different spot and still be related to the injury.

[jclark]

Maybe if foley would fix his driving he would be in the Fairway hitting safer shots more often. In my mind Foley has ONE JOB! FIX THE DRIVER!

[Infamous 273]

I'd d be lying if I didn't admit that 49.999% of me now thinks: Ahhhh..the tertiary affects of chronic PED use continue to manifest. I can't think of another athlete in history who was in the drivers seat to shatter so many records...wait...what's up, A-Rod?

[ChrisP]

I'd d be lying if I didn't admit that 49.999% of me now thinks: Ahhhh..the tertiary affects of chronic PED use continue to manifest. I can't think of another athlete in history who was in the drivers seat to shatter so many records...wait...what's up, A-Rod?

I think everybody deep down in their minds have suspicions....and if they don't, they're lying. It's the age we live in, not to mention who Tiger's associated himself with. But until there's proof, it's nothing more than that...suspicions.

[newtogolf]

Maybe if foley would fix his driving he would be in the Fairway hitting safer shots more often. In my mind Foley has ONE JOB! FIX THE DRIVER!

I don't know enough about Foley, but it seems Tiger might be due to a new swing coach.  Foley's zen approach was what Tiger needed to get past his Thanksgiving day blowup but at this point I think he needs to consider going back to Harmon.

[waldo]

I'm liking choice 3) a new tweak. Gate problems and posture wouldn't be a in play with a high profile athlete. The rehab team would have researched his pre injury movements and had him training to keep those motions from day 1. An athlete like tiger has a lot of video concerning his "healthier" days regarding his body motions. I was impressed with his poise since he came back. He's shown he was willing to step out and "figure" out his swing in a very public way at very hard venues.

[RJH999]

I think everybody deep down in their minds have suspicions....and if they don't, they're lying. It's the age we live in, not to mention who Tiger's associated himself with. But until there's proof, it's nothing more than that...suspicions.

I just don't understand why he would need to use steroids. A short Northern Irishman can hit the ball 340 these says. To recover from injuries, I suppose but I doubt it.

[Shorty]

A short Northern Irishman can hit the ball 340 these says.

Amazing, isn't it?

Even one with curly hair and probably one of the best driver swings in the history of the game.

[skydog]

I just don't understand why he would need to use steroids. A short Northern Irishman can hit the ball 340 these says. To recover from injuries, I suppose but I doubt it.

And a short, pudgy drunk was the best baseball slugger the world had seen. That hasn't stopped his successors from trying to take shortcuts.

[RJH999]

And a short, pudgy drunk was the best baseball slugger the world had seen. That hasn't stopped his successors from trying to take shortcuts.

Yes, but there is a huge difference in comparing the changing evolution of baseball to golf.

[ChrisP]

I just don't understand why he would need to use steroids. A short Northern Irishman can hit the ball 340 these says. To recover from injuries, I suppose but I doubt it.

You said it right there at the end....to recover from injuries. I don't know whether Tiger did them or not.....I have no proof, just suspicions like everyone else.....but for argument's sake if he did, my guess is he took HGH in '08 to try and recover quicker from knee surgery. I've heard others say the same. It would also explain why ever since then every other part of his body has been falling apart. But I don't know....I hope he didn't because it would truly ruin him and hurt the game so hopefully nothing ever comes out.