Surgery gives Australian Fraser new lease of life
Source: Agencies |
April 28, 2011, Thursday
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AUSTRALIAN Marcus Fraser begins the defense of his Ballantine's Championship title this week knowing he is lucky even to be on the tee after a career-threatening neck injury.
Fraser had surgery three months ago, having lost feeling in his right arm. "If I had not had the operation, I would never have played golf again," he told reporters yesterday before the start of the US$2.8 million tournament near Seoul.
"I probably would have lost the use of my right arm. I wanted to get back to being healthy, so it was a no-brainer to have (the surgery)."
Fraser, who won last year's Ballantine's tournament on the honeymoon island of Jeju, injured himself in the most innocuous of circumstances.
"At the Australian Open last November, I picked up my son over my head and felt something go in my neck," he said. "Over Christmas it just deteriorated. I had an MRI and it showed the disc had prolapsed.
"I had a couple of days where I couldn't walk and lost all use of my right arm.
"The pain was like someone twisting a knife into my neck while I was holding on to an electrified fence."
Fraser, whose 2010 Ballantine's victory was his first in seven years, made his comeback in January.
"(Being defending champion) is not something I've had to deal with too often, so it's nice when it does happen," said the 32-year-old who is ranked 184th in the world.
"It's certainly nice to have your name on that trophy."
Briton Lee Westwood, who has just returned to the top of the world rankings, heads a quality field at the event.
Elsewhere, Tiger Woods will miss next week's Quail Hollow tournament in North Carolina with a minor knee injury but hopes to play again in a few weeks, the former world No. 1 said on Tuesday.
Fraser had surgery three months ago, having lost feeling in his right arm. "If I had not had the operation, I would never have played golf again," he told reporters yesterday before the start of the US$2.8 million tournament near Seoul.
"I probably would have lost the use of my right arm. I wanted to get back to being healthy, so it was a no-brainer to have (the surgery)."
Fraser, who won last year's Ballantine's tournament on the honeymoon island of Jeju, injured himself in the most innocuous of circumstances.
"At the Australian Open last November, I picked up my son over my head and felt something go in my neck," he said. "Over Christmas it just deteriorated. I had an MRI and it showed the disc had prolapsed.
"I had a couple of days where I couldn't walk and lost all use of my right arm.
"The pain was like someone twisting a knife into my neck while I was holding on to an electrified fence."
Fraser, whose 2010 Ballantine's victory was his first in seven years, made his comeback in January.
"(Being defending champion) is not something I've had to deal with too often, so it's nice when it does happen," said the 32-year-old who is ranked 184th in the world.
"It's certainly nice to have your name on that trophy."
Briton Lee Westwood, who has just returned to the top of the world rankings, heads a quality field at the event.
Elsewhere, Tiger Woods will miss next week's Quail Hollow tournament in North Carolina with a minor knee injury but hopes to play again in a few weeks, the former world No. 1 said on Tuesday.
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