McGinley opts for revolutionary knee treatment

PAUL McGINLEY expressed his relief last night after avoiding an eighth knee operation in favour of a revolutionary new treatment that has worked wonders with Premier League soccer stars.

The 44-year-old Dubliner feared that a planned operation to clear up cartilage damage in his right knee would have to be brought forward after he pulled out of the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia following an opening 81.

But knee specialist Mr Andrew Unwin, a doctor who has worked with Arsenal, was reluctant to put McGinley under the knife again. The regenerative treatment, which has proved a huge success with footballers, involves injecting a substance containing the patient’s own blood.

“I’m delighted not to have to undergo surgery,” said McGinley after consulting with his specialist in London yesterday.

“After seven operations, I know too well how difficult the rehab process can be. It’s amazing how quickly your muscles waste when you’re inactive after surgery.

“In truth, I haven’t played a lick since my last operation 18 months ago. Hopefully this new treatment will do the trick, though first we have to clear the procedure with the powers that be in golf.

“It shouldn’t be a problem as soccer players have been cleared officially to receive these injections and the rules governing the treatment of professional sportsmen are pretty much universal.”

Down to 467th in the world from a high of 18th six years ago, McGinley had the worst season of his career last term when he finished 123rd in the money list after undergoing his seventh knee operation the previous winter.

This year he’s 147th and while he had a best result of sixth in the KLM Open in September and captained Great Britain and Ireland to a successful defence of the Seve Trophy the following week, he will again be forced to rely on his exemption as one of the tour’s Top 40 career money winners to ensure starts next season.