Tiger Woods revealed Tuesday that he has suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon, sidelining him for an extended period as he recovers.
“As I ramped up my training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was later confirmed to be ruptured,” Woods shared in a post on X. “This morning, Dr. Charlton Stucken at 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, focusing on my recovery and rehab. Thank you all for the support.”
Woods did not provide a timeline for his return, but according to the Cleveland Clinic, Achilles ruptures typically require four to six months to heal.
This marks yet another setback for Woods, who has faced numerous injuries in the later years of his career. Most recently, he stepped away from the sport to mourn the passing of his mother earlier this year, participating in TGL matches but not full tournaments.
In his announcement, Woods included a statement from Dr. Stucken, who assured that the procedure was successful.
“The surgery went smoothly, and we expect a full recovery,” Stucken said.
Woods had been training for a comeback following back surgery in September, which prematurely ended his 2024 season. He was not in the field for this week’s Players Championship, a tournament he has won twice. In December, the 15-time major champion acknowledged the long road to recovery from the procedure.
“I’m not physically ready yet to compete at this level,” Woods said ahead of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. “In the past, when I’ve come back here, I was ready to start competing again. Unfortunately, not this time. I still need to keep training to give myself the best chance for next year and the events ahead.”
As 2024 progressed, Woods said his back continued to deteriorate. “It just kept progressively getting worse to the point where it wasn’t improving, even with treatments or rest,” he explained. “Nothing felt good, and an MRI confirmed that.”
“I’m gradually testing it, trying to make progress without causing setbacks,” Woods said. “I just want to keep moving forward and give myself the best chance heading into next year. I feel like I’m getting stronger and more flexible, but I still have a long way to go to compete against these guys.”
This was the sixth back surgery of Woods’ career, following his recovery from severe leg injuries sustained in a February 2021 car crash in California.
Woods’ career began at a historic pace before scandals, injuries, and extended absences from the game disrupted his legendary trajectory. Once the most electrifying player in golf, he still commands a massive following, with fans flocking to see him whenever he steps onto the course.
