June 21, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 16, 1429

LOS ANGELES, June 20: Tiger Woods is likely to be sidelined for between six and 12 months after having reconstructive surgery on his left knee, according to a sports medicine expert.

The American world number one, who ended his 2008 campaign two days after winning the US Open on Monday, also needs time off to rehabilitate a double stress fracture of his left tibia.

“I think it’s something he will be able to recover from,” Dr. Michael Maloney, who specialises in knee injuries at the University of Rochester Medical Centre, said on Thursday. “Without knowing the specifics of the extent of the rest of the structures in his knee that may be damaged, it’s hard to predict completely.

“But from a reconstructive standpoint of the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), he should be able to rehabilitate and get back out there.

“Usually the recovery time is of the order of six to 12 months. People get back to their sporting activities after around six months but for a full recovery and muscle strength and balance and endurance, they may take a full year or so.”

Woods stunned the golfing world by announcing on Wednesday that he tore his knee ligaments 11 months ago, after last year’s British Open at Carnoustie. He opted not to have surgery, deciding instead to play through the pain.

Although Woods suffered a double stress fracture in his left shinbone two weeks before the US Open at Torrey Pines, he ignored medical advice to rest for six weeks in his bid for another major title.—Reuters