Carly Booth sidelined INDEFINITELY following knee surgery

Carly Booth admits she doesn’t know when she will play golf again following major knee surgery earlier this month.

The three-time Ladies European Tour winner was forced to undergo a reconstruction of her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after struggling for the better part of 18 months.

Speaking to the Perthshire Advertiser, the 31-year-old admits that she currently has no specific date set for her return to golf but expects 2024 to be a complete write-off.

“It is hard to say how many months I will be out for but I have been told that it will be around three to five months before I am back playing golf,” she said. “I have been told by people that I shouldn’t rush back so all I can do for now is stay positive and do the exercises that I have been given.

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“At the moment, I am just focusing on getting back to full fitness and I am not setting an exact date to be back on tour.

“If you pushed me for an answer, I imagine I will be back on tour in 2025.”

This is the latest injury blow for Booth who had a shoulder operation in December 2020 which sidelined her for five months.

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“My knee has been an issue now for the last year-and-a-half and I have been unable to play golf pain free during this time,” she added.

“After seeing the doctor, I was told that I needed an ACL reconstruction and a repair of my meniscus.

“Initially, I tried to just repair the issue through rehab without the need for surgery but that wasn’t possible. I was reluctant to have surgery because I know the recovery period is such a long time.

“The operation took place on Monday, January 15 and went well. My physio sessions start two weeks after my surgery so in the interim it is a case of small movements and resting.”