• Golf

Woods' injury may be 'career threatening' - Azinger

ESPN staff
June 8, 2011
Tiger Woods' swing has led to serious knee and Achilles injuries © Getty Images
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Former US Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger believes the injuries Tiger Woods has sustained could be "career threatening".

Woods confirmed on Tuesday that he would pull out of the US Open and Azinger pointed the finger of blame at Woods' swing.

"There's a lot of energy, a lot of torque and a quick acceleration to impact," Azinger said.

"We all do it. Some bodies hold up better. [His] leg straightens and his knee has paid a price for that.

"Tiger's got issues. He's had four surgeries on his left knee. The energy expended to impact doesn't change."

Woods, who has battled against injury since The Masters, hoped to be fit in time for the opening round at Congressional on June 16, but opted instead to look after his future, saying: "I'm committed to my long-term health".

After the news broke, Azinger tweeted, "career threatening injury", when describing the severity of Woods' woes.

"If you have an Achilles and a knee, that's serious stuff," Azinger later told ESPN.

"It must be pretty serious, if this is keeping out a guy who won the 2008 US Open with a torn ACL and a fracture in his leg."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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