Golfer Casey Martin has surgery

EUGENE, OREGON - Casey Martin had surgery Tuesday to remove potentially deadly bacteria from his withered right leg.

The professional golfer was listed in fair condition at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene. He will be hospitalized for about another week, then will need 6-to-10 weeks of rehabilitation, according to his Minneapolis-based agent, Chris Murray.

Golf World magazine first reported the surgery, saying on its Web site that doctors removed ``golf ball-size bacteria.''

Asked whether Martin might return to competitive golf this year, Murray said, ``I don't think `might' is the right word. I would say he will play this year.''

Martin has Klippel-Trenaunay-Webber Syndrome, a degenerative circulatory disorder in his right leg that makes it agonizing for him to walk more than a short distance.

Martin has sought numerous medical remedies to relieve the pain, and recently had surgery in Denver to improve the blood flow in his right leg. After a second operation, an infection developed.

In 1998, Martin won a federal lawsuit against the PGA Tour for the right to use a golf cart in tour sanctioned events. The decision was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last year.

The issue has become largely moot for Martin on the course, however, as he has struggled to play well. He made the cut in only nine of 21 events on the Buy.com Tour last year, earning $17,197.