Tiger Woods has announced that he underwent surgery for a ruptured left Achilles tendon, raising doubts about his return to competitive golf. The 15-time major champion revealed the injury occurred while training at home, leading to a minimally invasive procedure performed by Dr. Charlton Stucken. Woods has not provided a recovery timeline, but his participation in the upcoming Masters appears unlikely.
Here’s what we know about the injury, the surgery, and its impact on Woods’ career moving forward.
What happened to Tiger Woods, and how did he get injured?
On Tuesday, Tiger Woods announced that he underwent surgery for a ruptured left Achilles tendon.
The procedure was performed by Dr. Charlton Stucken at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida. Woods stated, “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” (via The Guardian). He confirmed that the surgery was minimally invasive and that the procedure “went smoothly,” according to Dr. Stucken.
Woods has not provided a timeline for his return. Achilles tendon recovery typically takes weeks before weight-bearing is possible. This makes his participation in the Masters, scheduled for April 10-13, highly unlikely. Woods, 49, last played an individual event at the British Open in July 2024, where he missed the cut. He competed in the PNC Championship in December with his son, Charlie, and played in the TGL indoor golf league he co-founded with Rory McIlroy.
Woods has faced multiple injuries throughout his career. He tore his right Achilles in 2008 and has undergone several knee and back surgeries. He also continues to deal with complications from severe leg injuries suffered in a 2021 car crash. His most recent withdrawal was at the Genesis Invitational in February 2024 due to illness. He initially committed to the event but later withdrew, saying he was “just not ready” after the death of his mother, Kultida, earlier this year.
Woods set a Masters record in 2023 by cutting for the 24th consecutive time but finished 60th. He failed to cut the other three majors that year. His latest injury raises uncertainty about his 2025 season.
