The Achilles' tendon is so named after the Greek legend of Achilles. When he was blessed with immortality upon being dipped into the river Styx, Achilles' one weak spot was on his heel. His mother, the goddess Thetis, had to hold on to her son in some fashion.

Now Tiger Woods's Achilles' heel is literally his Achilles' heel. He withdrew from the Cadillac Championship during the final round March 11. Golf Digest reports unlike other times in his career, Woods withdrew instead of playing through the pain. His victory at the 2008 U.S. Open was legendary in that his leg was broken in not one but two places.

Age has final worn down the Tiger. He's in his mid-30s, hardly a spring chicken anymore. Even though he plays golf as opposed to football, decades of practicing the same sport over and over take its toll eventually.

Even though golf involves swinging with the arms, an Achilles' tendon is vital to mobility no matter what you do in everyday life. Walking is impossible without that tendon. WebMD states the Achilles' tendon connects your calf muscle to the heel bone. Even swelling of the tendon can make walking difficult. PGA Tour pros are not allowed to use golf carts and must walk the 7,500 yards per day. Adding practice rounds earlier in the week and the miles literally add up.

Considering there are 1,760 yards in a mile, a golfer can walk a mile in five holes. At 7,500 yards per round, a PGA pro walks over four miles per round. If you practice a round per day on Tuesday and Wednesday, golfers walk a minimum of 16 miles if they don't make the cut. That's a lot of traction on an Achilles' tendon.

Woods became single-minded in his practice habits as he conquered golf. The strain and wear on his body has made recovering from his previous surgeries more problematic. The die-hard and everyday practice regarding golf has given Woods something that may be akin to a permanent pain in his leg.

All of the earlier glory in his career is finally showing. Even though he's just 36, just like any other elite athlete the body wears out. If Woods can't come back from this latest injury, his PGA days may be done.

William Browning has covered sports for the Yahoo! Contributor Network including golf and local golf courses in southwest Missouri. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.

Excerpt from:
Tiger Woods Faces Tough Task with Achilles’ Injury: Fan Take