Tiger Woods underwent surgery on Tuesday for a ruptured left Achilles and while the procedure “went smoothly,” his return to golf is unclear.
“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 golfer said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.
The 15-time major winner announced he’d undergone “a minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair” earlier in the day at a hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla. His surgeon said they expect him to make a “full recovery,” though neither clarified how much time that could take.
“I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab,” Woods concluded. “Thank you for all the support.”
Woods, 49, is likely facing several months of recovery and physical therapy and will almost certainly miss April’s Masters Tournament.
“After an Achilles tendon repair, patients can expect three to four weeks of immobilization, non-weightbearing (using crutches),” the Hospital for Special Surgery says of the recovery time. “It is usually about six to nine months before you return to all activities, such as running or jumping.”
Woods has not competed since last July’s Open Championship in Scotland. In September, he underwent spinal surgery to remove a herniated disc and relieve pressure on the nerves. It was believed to be the sixth surgery on his back since at least 2014.
He has also needed multiple surgeries on his right leg after a 2021 car crash.