[Vickie Lake]

I appreciate the posts. And I think anyone interested in golf or sports in general are asking questions and making up answers. I am no more privileged than anyone else in terms of knowing the details of Tiger's pathology. But there are some thoughts I want to share as we investigate with a cloudy microscope.

Tiger is in incredible physical condition. Period. Forget the physique that makes him a formidable physical specimen, and I mean that in the professional sense. Higher levels of fitness and health raise the ability of athletes to perform under very difficult conditions and typically to perform longer with developing injuries and also to recover more efficiently and often sooner than us average folk. So . . . Tiger could have waited on his surgery for a lot of reasons but the most obvious to me is that the recovery for ACL surgery will be longer, more arduous and mysterious in terms of the effect on his career.

Oddly enough Golf is not considered a high risk activity for the anterior cruciate ligament. The inflammation caused by injury, however, is a great pain activator. The fact is there is more vulnerability to the symptoms an ACL tear when the knee is straightened, hyperextended, twisted, or bent to the side as we see in walking and shifting weight to the left leg in the golf swing; it's obvious that his new foot rotation was a way to minimize these effects of his follow through.

Interestingly enough, while there is a forward shift in the tibia when the knee is straightened completely this is not the case when the knee is bent. Oh initially bending the knee is risky but after about 30 degrees the tibia realigns with the femur in a correct relationship. The symptoms that are incurred in walking and swinging are no longer inherent in the kneeling position.

I will only hint at the powerful effects of mental toughness but will strongly suggest that the adrenaline that must pump through your body when you make a shot that contributes to a win must be more profound than when you get excited over your dog sitting on command. Adrenaline is a great, natural pain masking chemical that is manufactured honestly; you can't fake it or force it. Have you ever had an injury or illness that made you incapable of moving and suddenly you reacted to something you see quickly out of the corner of your eye . . . for that second you didn't feel anything and then you catch yourself and yowsa! the pain rushes in like a strong north wind? Think about it.

And back to mental toughness, how many athletes do we know that work through the pain? Heck, I know a lot of recreational golfers that play weekly even though they have chronic back or shoulder pain. Of course, that is before they meet me; shameless plug. I ran the Peachtree Road Race once with a sprained ankle; yeah, there was money on the table. I was slower but competitive with a steady gait. Steady until I had to avoid another runner who darted across my very intentional straight path. At that point I would roll just slightly in the ankle and would limp for about ten steps, grimacing to keep from crying, until the ankle was soundly aligned and steady again until the next time. I don't know if it was the bet or my pride that got me through it but everytime I passed a mile marker I got a spirt of energy. I paid a price by slowing my recovery and I was lucky not to have created a bigger problem but it was worth it. I promise my prize winnings were not as public or profitable as Tiger's and I wouldn't take it back for a minute.

Ok, that's just a start. The stress fracture will have to wait till the next post. I know there are some PT's and othopedic specialists on this site that will hopefully share some experience.

Tiger the best golfer of all time? Tiger best athlete? I don't know about either position but I do know that the boy turned man before our eyes keeps people talking on and off the greens.

Let's talk more.

Vik