LONDON, 3 August 2005 — World No. 3 Ernie Els will not be able to swing a golf club for at least two months and be able to return to the professional circuit in at least four months, his surgeon said yesterday.
The 35-year-old South African — known as the ‘Big Easy’ — underwent knee surgery last Thursday after injuring knee ligaments while on a family sailing holiday.
The three-time major winner will undergo another operation in about two weeks’ time.
“He should be able to play gentle golf at 8-10 weeks and professional golf by 16 weeks,” said surgeon Andrew Unwin.
Els was swimming with his children in the Mediterranean when his foot was caught and he twisted, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). He will wait until the swelling subsides and the South African regains a full range of movement before carrying out the second operation.
“ACL ruptures in themselves do not cause pain, except in the first few weeks after the injury,” Unwin told Els’ official website.
“The main problem without an ACL is that the knee is unstable on pivoting. Activities such as running and cycling are usually possible without too much trouble.
“For the first six weeks or so after the operation the knee needs to be mobilised quite carefully as the graft construct is somewhat weak over this period.
“Ernie will spend a great deal of time at the gym mobilising the knee and once the wounds are healed, using a pool to regain his muscle strength.
