Tiger Woods will in all likelihood not be taking part in this year’s Masters Tournament. The reason for this is an injury that he sustained while training at home – a torn Achilles tendon.
“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,” the 49-year-old said in a message on Instagram and X.
The minimally-invasive surgery took place on Tuesday morning at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida. “The surgery went smoothly, and we expect a full recovery,” said the attending doctor, Dr. Charlton Stucken.
Tiger Woods: Comeback delayed by multiple setbacks
Woods is now at home and focused on recovery. Although he has not shared his plans concerning the Masters, it is considered unlikely that he will take part in the first major of the year, which begins in just over four weeks. The traditional tournament at Augusta National Golf Club will be held for the 89th time in April – Tiger Woods has won it five times, most recently in 2019.
It has been eight months since his last appearance in an official PGA Tour tournament. He played the British Open at Royal Troon in July. Since then, his tour comeback has been postponed again and again for various reasons. A return to the Masters seemed realistic, but now it has receded into the distance. With the injury to his Achilles tendon, Woods’ comeback remains uncertain.
The 15-time major champion has a long history of injuries: In April 2023, he competed in the Masters but had to withdraw during the third round. In the same month, he underwent surgery on his right ankle for post-traumatic arthritis, a result of his serious car accident in 2021. In September 2024, he had surgery on his lower back due to spasms and pain. Woods has been struggling with back problems on and off since 2014.