Canlas confident over Tiger’s return
Tiger Woods is far from done. A noted Filipino orthopedic in Dr. Jose Raul Canlas yesterday said Woods can still resume his professional career despite figuring in a horrific car accident last Tuesday in Los Angeles.
The 45-year-old Woods, one of the most successful golfers of all time with 15 major titles, was driving a courtesy car headed for his annual Genesis International golf tournament at the Riviera Country Club when the accident happened near the hilly Palos Verdes peninsula. His car flipped several times in a crash that seriously injured both of his legs. According to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center chief medical officer Anish Mahajan,
Woods underwent surgery to repair “significant orthopedic injuries” to his lower right leg and ankle, which included the insertion of a rod into his tibia and the use of a “combination of screws and pins” to stabilize his foot and ankle.
He is now awake and recovering in his hospital room, but his celebrated professional career is in serious peril.
“I think Tiger Woods has shown that he can mentally recover and be competitive again,” said Canlas, the surfing president and a member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) board of directors.
“He has the character to get back, but the first thing that he needs right now is to recover. Although it will really take a lot of time, there is no doubt that he can still return.”
I think Tiger Woods has shown that he can mentally recover and be competitive again.
Canlas had seen the worse injuries, not just in the Philippines, but around the world as well.
Aside from serving as chief of the Philippine Center for Sports Medicine until 2007, he was also part of the medical commission of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and was on duty during FIBA World Championships in 2002, 2006 and 2010.
He is the only Asian in the cage body and was a lecturer for the Olympic Solidarity Movement of the International Olympic Committee.
His last high profile assignment was in 2019 when he served as FIBA supervisory doctor in the World Cup in China before becoming the medical commission chief of Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee during the 30th SEA Games.
Recently, the POC tapped him to serve as chief of mission in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Canlas said aside from the initial surgery, Woods also has to undergo further treatment aside from the rehabilitation, where his character would be greatly tested.
“It will be very hard since he suffered multiple fractures from the incident. He might undergo bone healing, fasciotomy and most probably skin grafting,” said Canlas, who treated a handful of Philippine Basketball Association stars, including six-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo.
“I would like to think that there will be more surgical procedures before he goes home.”
Despite being optimistic over Woods’ recovery and eventual return to the professional circuit, Canlas couldn’t guarantee if Woods could still regain his deadly form, especially now that he is way past his athletic prime.
“If we’re talking here of recovering and returning to the professional level, yes, I think he can. But whether he can pick up where he was before, it’s going to be a wait-and-see thing,” the 60-year-old surgeon said.
“But knowing Tiger, who still became a champion despite multiple back surgeries, I’m confident that he can still return. He has the will power to beat the odds and get back to where he used to be.”