Tiger Woods has not participated in any events on the PGA Tour this season, and his recent Achilles injury casts doubt on his ability to compete in the upcoming Masters Tournament next month. He was also absent from The Players Championship, a notable event on the tour.
The former world No. 1 golfer announced that he is likely facing another lengthy hiatus from professional golf after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon. This latest setback follows a long period of limited participation in tournaments due to severe injuries sustained in a car accident in February 2021. Woods last played in an official PGA Tour event in July of the previous year, where he unfortunately missed the cut at The Open.
Woods recently confirmed that he opted out of competing in The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, a premier event of the PGA Tour, due to this injury. In a recent social media update, he shared that he had undergone successful surgery to repair the ruptured tendon.
“While I was gradually increasing my training and practice at home, I experienced a sudden sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was diagnosed as a rupture,” he stated. “Dr. Charlton Stucken of the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida, successfully performed a minimally-invasive procedure to repair the tendon.”
Now back home, Woods expressed gratitude for the support he has received and intended to concentrate on his rehabilitation process. He also noted that this injury affects the opposite leg to the one where he suffered substantial damage in the 2021 car crash. At 49 years old, it seems increasingly unlikely that Woods will be ready to participate in the Masters at Augusta National next month.
Dr. Stucken commented on the procedure, saying, “The surgery went smoothly, and we anticipate a full recovery,” which offers some optimism for Woods’ future.
Since his car accident, Woods has only participated in 11 competitive events. His challenging schedule has hindered his ability to effectively compete, as showcased by his performance at last year’s Masters, where he set a remarkable record by making his 24th consecutive cut but struggled significantly during the weekend rounds, finishing with back-to-back scores of 78. He faced early exits in each of the other three major tournaments following that.
In September of last year, Woods underwent a “successful” surgery to address persistent back spasms and pain. He was unable to compete in the Hero World Challenge in December, but made a special appearance later that month alongside his son at the PNC Championship, utilizing a golf cart due to his physical limitations.
Woods had plans to compete in The Genesis Invitational, a tournament he hosts, in February, but he ultimately revealed that he was “just not ready” to play, coinciding with the loss of his mother earlier that month. He also participated in the Seminole Pro-Member event at Seminole Golf Club on March 3 and took part in the inaugural TGL season, where he disclosed that his enthusiasm for practicing was lacking at this time.
During an emotional reflection on March 4, he mentioned that this had been only the third occasion that he had picked up a golf club that month, as he navigated his grief and his commitments on the PGA Tour. Given the circumstances, Woods is now likely to face an extended duration away from competitive golf. As for his return, Woods has yet to provide a timeline. The Masters is scheduled to take place at Augusta National from April 10-13, followed by the PGA Championship in May, the US Open in June, and the conclusion of the men’s major season at Royal Portrush during The Open from July 17-20.
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