Habel Communications Consulting press release on Kite's return to the Champions Tour

We worked up and distributed a press release this week about Tom Kite's return to the Champions Tour this week in Naples, about 14 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn biceps tendon in his left shoulder.

Despite the pain from the injury, Kite managed to play all 25 tournaments throughout the 2009 Champions Tour season and was still able to amass $848,871 in earnings on the strength of seven top-10 and 17 top-25 finishes.

The procedure in Kite's shoulder was performed November 4 in Birmingham, Ala., by noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who is widely considered one of the foremost surgeons in the United States for knee, elbow and shoulder injuries.

Soon after the surgery, Kite began physical therapy sessions that included stretching for flexibility and weight-resistance work for strength and well as intense massage to break down the scar tissue built up from the injury.

"The shoulder rehab has been long and intense but it has responded well," Kite said. "My shoulder's flexibility and strength are about 80-85 percent of normal, and while I would prefer to head out to start the season at 100 percent, I feel confident that I will be able to play my way back to being competitive in a short time. The first few weeks may be a bit rugged, but I need to test the water to see how my shoulder responds to playing and the hours of practice."

Kite was given the clearance by Andrews in mid-January to resume full-swing practice sessions. Over the past month, Kite - who turned 60 in December - has been working with golf teacher Chuck Cook in controlled stints at the practice range - "as much as Dr Andrews allowed," Kite said. "He wanted me to go slow and be cautious, so I am trying to do that as much as my lack of patience will tolerate."

See the entire release here (http://www.cybergolf.com/golf_news/kite_healthy_again_ready_to_return) as it ran on the Cybergolf website.