One of the few bright spots of the horrendous news that Tiger is done for the 2008 season is that the details of what Tiger endured and how he got ready (or more accurately, didn’t) for the U.S. Open have elevated his already prodigious achievement into the realm of the truly unprecedented and downright mystical.Consider these ridiculous facts:

- Tiger walked 91 holes (and won!) with no ACL in his left knee and a double fracture of his left tibia.

- Two weeks before the Open his doctors told him that he should be off the leg for six weeks (He told them, “I’m playing in the U.S. Open and I’m going to win”).

- In the eight weeks prior to the Open Tiger played less than 36 practice holes and in the weeks just prior to the tournament could only hit 50 practice shots a day, just 4-5 at a time.

Tiger’s swing coach Hank Haney has been the most outspoken about how very long the odds were that Tiger could even play. Haney said in one interview that Tiger was just hoping for a “Miracle” to happen so that he could just tee it up.

In another Haney interview you can link to below, ESPN host Scott Van Pelt describes Tiger as “from outer space,” “not one of us,” “not human.” You are getting close Scott. You are getting very close. 

Source: Great Radio Interview with Tiger’s Swing Coach Hank Haney