There are still some things about the timeline and the nature of Tiger’s injuries that don’t totally make sense, but let us all hope that the reports we are currently getting, this time, turen out to be 100% accurate.

Source: Article on Tiger’s Surgery

“I asked him how this affected his golf, and he responded with one of the most remarkable answers I’ve ever heard: “I lost my ability to will things to happen,” he said.

From just about anyone else, I would have thrown the b.s. flag and dismissed those words as a lot of hot air, but I had already seen Woods do so many remarkable things I was willing to take the bait. “Give me an example of when you willed something to happen,” I asked.

“At the [1996 U.S.] Amateur,” he said. “That putt on 17 against [Steve] Scott. I told myself there was no way I was going to miss it. I willed that ball into the hole.”"

For the Pastor, this answers a lot of questions.

In Sirak’s column he also writes about a conversation in which Tiger’s late father Earl claims that he communicates
telepathically” with Tiger. For fans of the First Church this is not new information. Sports Illustrated reported in 1999 that Earl took partial credit for Tiger’s PGA win that year for communicating with him “telepathically” while he was over the crutial putt on the 71st hole (interestingly, Tiger gives credit to Steve Williams for making a good read on that putt).

It sounds like the First Church may have yet another media convert.

Source: Ron Sirak column that references the special powers of Tiger and Earl 

- 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

We have now learned that Tiger somehow (details are still missing) suffered a double stress fracture in his left tibia just two weeks before the U.S. Open. He was apparently told by doctors not to play and, according to his coach Hank Haney responded defiantly (in a quote that would be rejected even by a Hollywood screenwriter), “I’M PLAYING THE U.S. OPEN, AND I’M GOING TO WIN.”

“And then he started putting on his shoes,” Haney recalled. “He looked at me and said, ‘Come on, Hank. We’ll just putt today.’ Every night, I kept thinking there was no chance he’s going to play. He had to stop in his tracks for 30 seconds walking from the dining room table to the refrigerator.

“He was not going to miss the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. There just wasn’t any discussion.”

The are at least three angles to this story and at least two of them are actually positive.

The first is that his victory at the Open, which, based on his two month layoff and his enduring of incredible pain alone, already deserved to go down as one of the most amazing athletic achievements in sports (if not life), is now vaulted into the realm of true legend. In fact, this story is so amazing it is impossible to imagine how it could even theoretically be exaggerated as it inevitably passes into mythology.

Secondly, the Pastor has been rather pessimistic about the long term prospects for Tiger’s career based on what we all saw at the Open (and has received quite a few e-mail from fellow followers insisting he has lost his faith). However, today’s news (if true) actually, while horrible in the short run, seems to be good news for the future. The Pastor could not understand how Tiger could be in such pain if there was any real hope of total healing (and if there was hope of that, why Tiger would bother playing the Open at all). This was based on the premise that the source of the pain was the ligaments and/or cartilage in the knee and that after three surgeries they were simply shot.

What we apparently learned today is that the bulk of the pain was from the fractured tibia which can heal fully and that the ACL is going to be repaired in a way that may not create huge long term problems. This is obviously very good news for the future and Tiger’s historical quest to break every major golf record.

Thirdly, and least positively, is of course the reality that we will be without Tiger Woods for the remainder of 2008. He will miss at least two majors and a Ryder Cup at the age of 32 and in the absolute prime of his career. While, assuming he recovers to near 100% of what he was, the race to surpass Nicklaus’ mark of 18 professional majors should only be delayed and not derailed, we are still being robbed of what should be some of Tiger’s very best.

On a personal note, the Pastor is likely going to cancel a planned trip to the Ryder Cup and will have an awful lot of time on his hands during what he already expected to be a difficult period. This was not a good time for Tiger to take nine months off.

From the religious perspective there are two things to keep in mind here.

First, Tiger does turn 33 this year, which is a year that was obviously not good for Jesus of Nazareth as well as many other bright lights that were extinguished far too early. The Pastor has always feared that something tragic would befall Tiger and take him (or at least his talents) away from us prematurely. The Pastor certainly hopes that this situation is not that event.

Secondly, if there is an obvious lesson here it is to appreciate what you have when you still have it because no matter how great and indestructible it may seem, it can all be gone in an instant.

Is that the lesson Tiger is trying to teach us through this? Who knows. But there is no doubt we should savor every moment we have to witness his greatness and certainly appreciate even more what he accomplished at the U.S. Open.

Will we ever see Tiger at his very best again? Is his pursuit of perfection now over and will be reduced to having to compete as a mere mortal? Or will he once again defy the critics and rise above expectations to provide us many more memorable moments?

Unfortunately we will have to be very patient for the answers to these and many other questions, but, if history is any guide, Tiger will likely make it all well worth the wait.

When most mere humans gas tank would have been emptied long ago, Tiger Woods created heroics on 18th hole for the third straight day making a birdie to for a sudden death playoff against the more than game Rocco Mediate.

This was by far the most exciting U.S. Open (and perhaps golf tournament) in history. Tiger provided numerous “once in a lifetime” moments: the birdie on 10 on day 2 to start the 30 on the back nine, the 65 foot eagle putt on 13 on Saturday, The slam dunk chip in on 17, the eagle putt on 18, the 12 foot birdie putt to force a playoff on 18 on Sunday, the miracle bunker shot from the wrong hole on 15 on Monday, and the birdie to force sudden death on the 90th hole. All of this with a lame left knee and without having played in the prior seven weeks.

For many great players, this would provide more than a career highlight film. For Tiger, it was just a great weekend. There are really no words to describe just how incredible all of this was. We are simply lucky to have witnessed it.

Tiger himself called this his “best” major title ever. But is it possible if it is also his last? Tiger’s statements on the condition of his left knee have been extremely cryptic and he has said he is not going to play for a while (he even said he may not play in his own tournament in D.C.) and that he played in the U.S. Open against doctor’s orders.

While the Pastor is no doctor, he is extremely confused as to what logical scenario explains what has transpired here that does not include a serious threat to his career.

After all, if he was simply not done healing why did he play at all? It would have made no sense for him to risk his career, or even the rest of the season, for one tournament. So, that would strongly imply that the “healing” is mostly done. If that is the case, then how does Tiger possibly continue his practice and training regime with a knee that is clearly a huge hindrance. If the knee truly cannot get better, under even the best of circumstances it would be hard to imagine (even for Tiger) that his considerable skills would not quickly fade without being anywhere near 100% physically.

Keep in mind that Tiger is extremely good at masking what is really going on and the Pastor would not be shocked (though he would crestfallen) if this, perhaps his greatest major championship victory, may very well be his last. It may be relevant to note here that, from a religious perspective, Tiger is in his 33rd year (BTW, in an obvious internal family dispute, Tiger was caught on camera once again screaming “God Damn it!” after a bad shot out of a bunker on 12 today).

Let us hope (and pray if you like) that this is not the case. Regardless, let us once again rejoice in the glorious gift to mankind that is Tiger Woods.

His birdie putt on the final hole today insures that no matter what happens tomorrow this is the most exciting U.S. Open in history. It may even be the greatest golf tournament in history.

While Tiger’s left knee may never again be 100%, his courage, determination, will, and ability to rise to the moment are still the best the sports world (and maybe humanity) has ever seen. Even if he is just human (is that really possible after this weekend?) we are so lucky to be living in his era.

What else can you say?

I was lost and now I am found.

Praise Tiger. Good luck Rocco.

Fighting a shaky game and a lame left knee that was getting worse by the minute, Tiger electrified the entire world of golf (and a prime-time TV audience) with a curling, downhill 65 foot eagle putt on the 13 hole. Tiger then completely last his tee ball and bogied 14 and struggled on 15 and 16 before slam dunking a birdie chip in on 17.

On 18 Tiger finally found the fairway and then hit an amazing second shot to the par 5 which left him wincing in pain and left him another long downhill eagle putt. When Tiger somehow made the eagle on 18 those watching would not have been the least bit surprised if the sky had parted and Tiger had ascended into the heavens.

Of course that would not have allowed him to take his one shot lead into the final round tomorrow. How tomorrow could possibly top today is impossible to imagine. However, doubting Tiger’s ability to do anything usually proves to be ill-advised.

What we witnessed over the last 27 holes is the most incredible athletic performance that the Pastor has ever seen.

LET US GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE!!!

At one point late in the front nine Tiger (despite a Superman-like eagle) trailed the lead by seven shots and appeared to be barely hanging on. Then, after a poor drive on 10 (which must have landed near a phone booth where Tiger was able to put on his red cape) Woods made 5 straight 3s and finished with five birdies and no bogies on the nine to somehow finish just one off the lead.

This was made all the more remarkable by the reality of his still healing knee and the two month lay off it caused, as well as the pairing with rival and local favorite Phil Mickelson (whom Tiger pounded by seven shots today)

Once again, Tiger has shown that you doubt him at your own peril.

Thank you Tiger for yet another amazing performance!!

His entire column is linked below. The Pastor e-mailed him the following response:

Dear Rick:

As the “Pastor of the First Church of Tiger Woods” (www.tigerwoodsisgod.com) I was glad to see you properly refer to Tiger as a “God” in your Tiger/Phil piece.

However, I must object to your assertion that watching Tiger win is boring and meaningless. Even as someone who normally roots for the underdog in sports, I get the greatest joy out of Tiger’s conquests. At its core, I believe this is because when Tiger wins, the human species gets somehow vindicated. Let’s face it, human beings suck. The evidence is overwhelming (and goes way beyond just Washington, D.C.). And yet this fatally flawed species has somehow managed to produce this man who has nearly perfected an endeavor that was always thought to be totally immune to perfection. And he has done so while meeting and exceeding the loftiest of expectations on and off the field of play in an era where our heroes almost universally end up disappointing us.

While you scoff at Tiger victories as just another step on the inevitable road to shattering Jack Nicklaus’ records (how numbed to his greatness have we become when breaking records no one ever thought were remotely in reach is suddenly considering dull before it even happens??!), I see each of them as giving us far more real “hope” in the potential of this sad species than Barack Obama could ever dream of providing. If Tiger victories are boring, I hope we all get bored to death.

Source: Rick Reilly Column Mocking Those Who Root for Tiger Woods