Tiger Woods has undergone surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon, with the five-time major champion now facing an extended spell on the sidelines as he recovers
Tiger Woods fitness woes have continued, after the 82-time PGA Tour winner announced he had once again been sidelined, this time after suffering an Achilles injury.
It was a new blow for Woods, who has competed since missing the cut at last July’s Open Championship at Royal Troon. He was set to play in last December’s Hero World Challenge but was once again forced to miss out, having undergone surgery on a back problem two months earlier.
His latest injury has not only cast doubt over next month’s opening major championship of the season but also the remainder of Woods’ career on the PGA Tour. The 15-time major champion will likely miss the trip to Augusta National next month, having had surgery on the issue.
“As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured,” he said in a statement on Tuesday. “This morning, Dr. Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida performed a minimally-invasive Achilles tendon repair for a ruptured tendon.
“‘The surgery went smoothly, and we expect a full recovery,’ added Dr. Stucken. I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab, thank you for all the support.” The uncertainty surrounding Woods’ fitness has raised doubts as to whether he still has what it takes to compete
After suffering life-changing injuries in a car crash in February 2021, it was thought that the 49-year-old would never play again. He defied the odds a year later though, returning to the 2022 Masters 14 months on. Since though, the 82-time PGA Tour winner has played just 11 rounds of competitive golf across 10 events, with his discomfort on the course evident.
His Achilles issue could potentially result in him missing all four majors this season, leaving him with a significant decision to make at the end of the year. Woods will have turned 50 come the end of the year, making him eligible to compete on the PGA Tour Champions.
