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Will Tiger Be Even Less Human When His Robot Knee Is Fully Operational?

Ryan WilsonPosted Sep 6th 2008 12:34PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA

We're smack dab in the middle of the FedEx Cup, which means, naturally, that it's time for a Tiger Woods update.

This is what happens when the world's best golfer goes on injured reserve and the contrived end-of-season playoffs is determined after two events (thanks, Vijay!).

Last month, Bacon wondered if this was the beginning of the end of the Tiger era, which, predictably, drew some level-headed responses from readers.

Well, Hank Haney (Woods' swing coach), who obviously has every reason to be objective, doesn't see how having a shiny, new knee "won't make Tiger better." Actually, that's a fair point, particularly when you consider that Woods claims his knee has been bothering him for years, and he's still be dominating the field.

But Haney's not a doctor, so maybe we should get a second opinion. From Jaime Diaz's extensive GolfDigest piece:
Though ACL injuries can be problematic for athletes who are required to make high-speed cuts and deal with contact, Woods is a golfer. For all the extreme forces that he supposedly puts on his left knee when swinging the club 125 miles per hour, orthopedic doctors say that ACL tears as a direct result of the golf swing are extremely rare.
Continue Reading Will Tiger Be Even Less Human When His Robot Knee Is Fully Operational?

Tiger Woods Walks on Water; John Daly Is Not Impressed

Ryan WilsonPosted Aug 20th 2008 9:30AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA

Apparently, Hank Haney wasn't screwing around when he said Tiger Woods is doing just fine. Based on this hidden video EA Sports commercial pimping Tiger Woods '09, it looks like the world's best one-legged golfer is getting around swimmingly.



You Been Blinded's HG writes that Tiger's next miracle will include resurrecting David Duval's career. (There was some discussion about helping Michelle Wie win an LPGA event but that was deemed impossible).

Pretty impressive, I suppose, but John Daly can turn water into a beer helmet, a handful of tees into a pack of smokes, and five loaves of bread and two small fish into anything on the Cracker Barrel menu. Which, I guess, is why he's known as the "drinking man's Jesus."

No Reason to Be Alarmed: Tiger Woods Is Doing Fine

Ryan WilsonPosted Aug 19th 2008 12:51PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA


Great news, Tiger Woods fans! According to his swing coach and unofficial spokesperson, Hank Haney, the planet's best golfer is fine and dandy despite the fact that, you know, it sounds like he's not.

But just because Eldrick won't be swinging a club until 2009 isn't a cause for concern -- nor is it a reason for Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh et al to get their hopes up -- at least to hear Haney tell it.
"He's not behind schedule," Woods coach Hank Haney said yesterday. "I think people thought, 'It's Tiger Woods, he'll be back in two months.' But it just doesn't work that way." ...

"He's doing really good with his rehab," Haney said. "He feels good about it. I talked to him [Sunday] night for a long time on the phone and he's making great progress, working hard. He's in the pool, on the bike. The ACL is a long rehab - that's just the way it is."
Apparently, not even the world's finest robots can rebound from knee surgery in a few months. I had no idea. Whatever, when Woods does return to the tour, Haney is convinced that "he'll be back better than ever." No idea if Haney's contract stipulates that he must say that at least once per public appearance or if he truly believes that, but there are concerns that Era of Tiger could be behind us.

A Reality Show to Fix Barkley's Golf Swing?

Shane BaconPosted Aug 14th 2008 11:31AM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Golf


In your wildest, reality television dreams, could you have ever envisioned something so perfect, so beautiful, so divine and so, ummm, jerky?

Charles Barkley, the world's most lovable hacker, will begin filming a reality television show in two weeks for The Golf Channel to fix his swing. No, seriously, just read the sentence again, it's like if Spring Break and Labor Day had a kid.

Barkley will be working with Tiger Woods' swing coach and swoosh supporter Hank Haney in hopes to make his swing look a lot less like a Tornado on acid.

The goal: "Fix Charles Barkley's swing,'' says Sir Charles, who took Woods' suggestion and called Haney. "It's some ugly (stuff), isn't it? It's not only terrible, it's embarrassing.''

"I was telling Hank (Tuesday) that when I'm standing over the ball, I'm (expletive deleted) terrified. I have no idea what's going to happen. He told me he used to have the yips, but not as bad as me. That's what makes me think he can fix what's wrong.''

As excited as I am to DVR this thing, just because Barkley would make a funeral entertaining, I'm really not sure you can fix this. Or this. Or this.

The only way this could get better is if Barkley could convince Vegas to make how many shots he can cut from his score an option in the Sports Book. If Haney can fix this, I'm writing him in on my November ballot.

H/t to both Game On! and Awful Announcing

Tiger Won't Even Be Practicing Until 2009

Shane BaconPosted Aug 12th 2008 5:01PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA

For all those that were expecting Tiger Woods to rally back from this knee surgery in time to lead the Ryder Cup team to victory in Hollywood fashion, I've got some bad news for you.

Our main man said he won't even be swinging a club until the ball drops in Time Square.
"As far as swinging a club, that's not going to happen until next year," Woods said in a newsletter sent Tuesday to readers of his Web site, tigerwoods.com. "I just don't have a choice. We simply don't know what type of swelling there would be or if there would be any residual effects the next day once you start wheeling and dealing on the knee. Everyone's body reacts differently. I could putt right now, but I'm not going to do it."
Maybe the reason he isn't going to putt is because if he makes putts, he sometimes does this and I heard that isn't great on the body joints.
Continue Reading Tiger Won't Even Be Practicing Until 2009

Tiger Woods Has Second 'Successful' Surgery in 10 Weeks, Golf Channel to Air Procedure

Ryan WilsonPosted Jun 24th 2008 7:22PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA, US Open

Because my contract stipulates that "no more than 84 hours shall pass between laudatory Tiger Woods posts," here ya go:

Eldrick, your 2008 Player of the Year and FedEx points leader, had his second successful knee surgery in 10 weeks Tuesday. (Of course, it's kinda hard to call the first surgery "successful" when two-and-a-half months later you're right back on the operating table, but whatever...)

Thankfully, it was about as routine as such things go, so Tiger's right on schedule to return sometime between January and December, 2009.
"There were no surprises during the procedure, and as we have said, with the proper rehabilitation and training, it is highly unlikely that Mr. Woods will have any long-term effects as it relates to his career."
And no Woods post would be complete without at least one amazing Tiger Fact! Brinson wrote last week that Woods' coach, Hank Haney, called last week's U.S. Open Tiger's "greatest win." Hard to dispute, but just in case you needed more convincing, consider Haney's comments to ESPN.com's Bob Harig minutes after major victory No. 14:
Continue Reading Tiger Woods Has Second 'Successful' Surgery in 10 Weeks, Golf Channel to Air Procedure

Hank Haney Thinks the U.S. Open Was Tiger's 'Greatest Win' Ever

Will BrinsonPosted Jun 19th 2008 9:45AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA

Hank Haney, swing coach for Tiger Woods, gave a lengthy interview to 850 the Buzz (audio available) in Raleigh yesterday, talking all things Eldrick. Well, mostly things relating to Tiger's injury, since the vast majority of the next year will focus on that.

There are 12 minutes worth of solid discussion from Hank at the 850 website, but the most fascinating thing to me is that most of Hank's stories about Tiger sound like they are being told by a normal person -- i.e., in absolute awe of El Tigre -- except one who has seen the inner workings of the machine.

Haney was asked if the 2008 U.S. Open was Tiger's "greatest win" and responded "absolutely ... in particular the lack of preparation" he had for the tournament and the obvious playing-with-one-leg thing.

Apparently too, Tiger's doctors told him post-surgery that he needed to spend "three weeks on crutches", at which point Tiger looked at them and said "I'm playing in the U.S. Open and I'm going to win." Which is not all that unsurprising, but it's still pretty B-A.

Finally, Haney was asked about the recovery time for the injury, which everyone expects will carry over to next year's Masters. He pointed out that it should be the full six to eight months because it is an ACL injury and there is "no way to rush that." He also stated, as many others have, that when Tiger comes back, he expects "him to be stronger and better than ever before."

It seems like a stretch, but then again, Tiger has been dominating the sport with one leg already. Full strength and motivated? Scary.

Tiger Plays 18 at Torrey Pines, Haney Says Greens Are Fastest He's Seen in 30 Years

Shane BaconPosted Jun 4th 2008 8:42PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA


Tiger Woods played a practice round today at Torrey Pines, the first complete round he's played since surgery on his knee April 15.

Woods played alone at the site of next week's U.S. Open, riding next to swing coach Hank Haney in a 3 hour, 15 minute round with no media or spectators allowed on the course.

This might really surprise you, but Haney said after that Tiger hit the ball really solid.
"It went well," Haney said in a telephone interview. "He hit the ball really well. It was definitely a positive day."
The most interesting news came from Haney about the course conditions. Unlike some, Haney didn't bash the golf course, just stated that the rough was extremely thick (like you'd expect) and the greens were, well, just the toughest he's ever seen on tour.
"In the deep stuff, it's a sand wedge, maybe a 9-iron at the most," Haney said. "We were messing around on No. 10 and he tried to hit a 5-wood. Even when the grass is deep, if you open the face and hit a cut, you might scoot it 150 yards. It's quite a sight to see Tiger 165 yards from the pin with a 5-wood."

"The greens were so fast," he said. "In the 30 years of being on tour and teaching players, that was the fastest I've ever seen greens this far out. They were putting beautifully."
Like I've said before, Tiger has become such a machine, everything he does is for a reason. It appears he's taught that lesson to his swing coach.

Honestly, did you expect to hear someone from the Woods camp say they're worried? Ha.

Tiger Woods Is Unaffected by Five-Week Layoff, Hitting the Ball Better Than Ever

Ryan WilsonPosted May 28th 2008 4:48PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA


Hank Haney, when not serving as Tiger Woods' golf coach, often acts as his unofficial publicist. He's routinely quoted in the media on the status of the world's best player, and this week is no different.

Tiger's still recovering from knee surgery that will keep him out of the Memorial and delay his return to tournament golf until the U.S. Open in mid-June. After Phil Mickelson's impressive win at the Colonial, he's emerged as the Open favorite for many people, although it's probably silly to count Eldrick out. Even on one good wheel.

Haney elaborates:
"As for the notion that somehow Tiger will need to adjust his swing or strategy in order to compensate for his knee," Haney said. "That hasn't been considered. I don't see how the rough will be an issue. He didn't have a wrist injury."

Haney spent much of this past weekend working with Woods and, Haney reported, "Tiger hit the ball as good as I have ever seen him hit it with all his clubs. Tiger is an amazing individual and he feels good about his chances at Torrey Pines."
This is the first I'm hearing of Tiger having to alter his swing to compensate for the knee injury, so not much to say on that, but if Haney isn't stretching the truth about Woods hitting "the ball as good as [he's] ever seen him hit it with all his clubs," then we all might want to reconsider handing Philbert his first U.S. Open title.

It seems preposterous to suggest that Tiger could somehow be unaffected by a two-month layoff, but then again, he's a Cylon -- the resurrection ship speeds up the recovery process.

Shockingly, Tiger Woods' Golf Game Hasn't Imploded Since Leaving Butch Harmon

Ryan WilsonPosted Mar 22nd 2008 11:08AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA


Tiger Woods and his longtime swing coach, Butch Harmon, parted company in 2002. Woods won eight majors under Harmon's tutelage but was shutout during an eight-major stretch from 2003-2004. Which promptly led to speculation that Woods without Harmon was just another really good golfer.

At the 2004 U.S. Open, Harmon didn't help things:
"Tiger Woods is not playing well, he is not working on the right things in his golf swing, although obviously Tiger thinks he is. ...

"But for him to stand there at every one of his interviews and say 'I am close, I feel really good about what I am doing', I think it might be a bit of denial."
Tiger didn't take it well, but frankly, he was struggling. That's all a distant memory now, though; Hank Haney, Woods' current swing coach has had a lot to do with the recent successes but ultimately -- and everybody knows this, especially Haney -- it's all about Tiger.
Continue Reading Shockingly, Tiger Woods' Golf Game Hasn't Imploded Since Leaving Butch Harmon
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