Leading Sweden golfer Henrik Stenson revealed he will undergo surgery next month on a troublesome left knee.
Stenson, 35 made the revelation after carding a four under par 67 on the opening day of the Iskandar Johor Open at the Horizon Hills course.
“I have a meniscus tear in my left knee and I’m having arthroscopic surgery and will be in hospital 6th and 7th December,” he said.
Henrik Stenson (left) gets a hand on the trophy ahead of the Iskandar Johor Open. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I’m going to see one of the most experienced sports surgeons in Stockholm who has worked with all the Olympians and football stars.
“He’s probably done thousands of these operations and he’s informed me that he would not be undertaking the operation if it’s not needed.
“But my knee has been doggy since I injured it way back in March at the Bay Hill tournament but I’ve managed to avoid any surgery to now.
“I really didn’t want to take any time off during the season but it’s just not 100%. I’ve been informed it’s not a major thing so I am hoping I won’t be out of competition for too long.
“Hopefully, I will be fit and ready for the Desert Swing next year as I’ve heard Tiger (Woods) is playing in Abu Dhabi next year for a first time and I would really love to be there.
“It hasn’t bothered me that much in swinging the club or hitting shots but it’s not great when I am walking hilly courses and also there are a lot of noises coming from my knee particularly when I squat down to read putts.
“This is the first real injury I’ve had in my career and touch wood I don’t have any more.”
Stenson has split his time this year between the PGA Tour and the European. He ended the 2011 PGA Tour season finishing well down in 189th position with earnings of just $US 328,000.
However victory in the 2009 Players Championship ensures his exemption for 2012.
In Europe it has been a similar scenario with Stenson, a six-time Race to Dubai winner, arriving in Johor in 134th position and staying at his poorest money list finish in nine years.
“It hasn’t been a great year but I’ve managed to play a bit better the last couple of months and hopefully I can have a really good this week before going into hospital,” he added.
Stenson also teed-up in Johor placed 181st on the world rankings and a huge drop since reaching a career high of third in February, 2009.
However his worrying knee was not only Stenson’s main concern on the first day of the $US 2m co-sanctioned event as the Swede has been battling a head cold since arriving in Johor.
Henrik Stenson heading to hospital next month for knee surgery. (Photo - Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“I only managed to play eight holes before today because I was just feeling that poorly,” he added after his first round 67.
“I was lucky I saw those eight holes because rather than feeling like a strong bull, I felt very much like a poor little bull.
“I was just trying to conserve energy and drink a lot of fluids.”
Stenson capped his round with three birdies over his opening four holes including hitting a wedge to tap-in distance at the 10th or the first hole of his round.
“It was a really hot start with two birdies in succession and then I was three under par after four,” he said.
“But after being four under par for my front nine I hit some wishy-washy ones coming in.
“It’s a really good golf course and I have not played any courses before that have been designed by Ross Watson, so I am impressed by the design.
“There’s been quite a lot of new courses we’ve played in the last 10 to 15 years that have not impressed me but this is a nice new addition.
“So I am looking to playing well over the next three days.”
