Harmon: expects Tigers knee to be weaker

This is going to be the fourth surgery on the same knee, so obviously it's never going to be as strong as it originally was. The doctors have assured him that he should be ok, but I think only time will tell if that is the case.

Butch Harmon
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Butch Harmon told Golf Night that only time will tell if Tiger Woods can return from injury as the same player.

Woods will go under the surgeon's knife for a fourth time in attempt to cure his troublesome left knee and is expected to be out for up to nine months.

Despite claiming his 14th Major at the US Open on Monday, Woods was clearly in pain throughout the five days and revealed on Wednesday that his knee would require reconstructive surgery.

And Harmon admitted he was unsure if Tiger could come back as the same player.

"I think there's going to be [long term damage] and it only remains to be seen how good he is when he comes back," he said.

"This is going to be the fourth surgery on the same knee, so obviously it's never going to be as strong as it originally was. The doctors have assured him that he should be ok, but I think only time will tell if that is the case."

It is believed that Woods may have ignored doctor's orders to not take part at Torrey Pines last week and Harmon revealed he didn't believe he would have risked playing if it wasn't at one of his favourite courses.

"If the US open had been at any other course other than Torrey Pines I don't think he would have played," he said.

"But I think because of where it was - and the fact that he realised he was going to have surgery whether he played or didn't play - he just decided to see if he could handle the pain and get through it and he did a phenomenal job and it was one of the greatest US Opens of all time."

Swing

Woods now faces a long road back to recovery and may even have to modify his swing to prevent further injury in the future, however, according to Harmon that will be easier said than done.

"Well I think he may have to do something, but I don't know how much he can do because that is just his swing," he explained. "That is how he generates his speed - by snapping that left knee shut and he's done it all his life.

"I think with the rehabilitation and the strengthening of the knee after the surgery, the knee should come back very strong, so I think we'll see the same type of swing, but maybe not so violent."

Ryder Cup

His injury will also come as a bitter blow to the American Ryder Cup team ahead of their meeting with Europe at Valhalla in September, but Harmon believes it is an opportunity for someone else to shine.

"It will be interesting to see if Tiger goes to the Ryder Cup just to be with the guys," he said. "If that is the case I think it will be a motivational factor.

"But it is what it is, there are a lot of great players out there and now they have an opportunity to step up to the plate and do something special themselves."