Tiger Woods Sidelined After Achilles Injury

Tiger Woods announced on Tuesday that he has suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon, forcing him to step away from the course for an extended period as he focuses on recovery.

“As I began to ramp up my training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was confirmed to be a rupture,” Woods shared in a post on X. “This morning, Dr. Charlton Stucken of the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida, performed a minimally invasive procedure to repair the tendon.”

Woods added, “I’m back home now and will focus on my recovery and rehab. Thank you all for the support.”

While Woods did not specify a timeline for his return, the Cleveland Clinic reports that Achilles tendon ruptures typically require four to six months to heal.

Another Setback in a Career Plagued by Injuries

This is the latest in a series of health setbacks for Woods, who has battled numerous injuries in the latter years of his career. He had recently been away from the sport, mourning the death of his mother earlier this year, and had only competed in TGL matches rather than full tournaments.

Dr. Stucken expressed optimism about Woods’ recovery, stating, “The surgery went smoothly, and we expect a full recovery.”

Woods had been working toward a comeback after undergoing back surgery in September, which ended his 2024 season prematurely. He was not part of the field at this week’s Players Championship, a tournament he has won twice. In December, Woods admitted he was still facing a long recovery process.

“I’m not physically ready yet to compete at this level,” Woods said before the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. “The times I’ve come back here, I was ready to start competing and playing again. Unfortunately, not this time. I still need to keep training to give myself the best chance going into next year and the events ahead.”

Woods revealed that his back issues worsened throughout 2024, to the point where neither rest nor treatment provided relief.

“It just wasn’t getting better,” Woods said. “An MRI showed the problem, so I’m working on progressively testing it and making progress without setting myself back.”

This marked Woods’ sixth back surgery and followed his remarkable recovery from serious leg injuries sustained in a February 2021 car crash in California.

A Career of Highs and Lows

Woods’ career began at a historic pace, but injuries, scandals, and time away from the sport have repeatedly disrupted his path. Despite the challenges, Woods remains one of the most captivating figures in golf, with loyal fans continuing to flock to see him whenever he steps onto the course.

As Woods embarks on yet another comeback, the golf world will be watching closely, hopeful for yet another chapter in his legendary career.