Tiger Woods, the acclaimed golf titan, has once again been compelled to postpone the onset of his current PGA Tour season due to a recent surgical procedure. Sports analyst, Dan Rapaport, speculates this delay could mark the end of Woods’ career as he is poised to miss a significant part of the season following Achilles tendon surgery.
Ludvig Aberg, meanwhile, remains hopeful for Woods’ speedy recovery. The 82-time PGA Tour victor’s last appearance was at The Open Championship the previous summer. Woods did manage to participate in TGL, but his team, Jupiter Links GC, unfortunately, did not qualify for the playoffs in Florida.
In 2024, the 15-time major champion participated in merely five PGA Tour starts. This included the four major championships following the Genesis Invitational.
Rapaport, eager to quash recurring narratives about Woods, expressed his sentiment on his podcast, “Dan on Golf”. He urged fans to abandon the idea that Woods would return to frequent play this year. He emphasized the severity of Woods’ injury, describing it as one of the worst an athlete, particularly a 49-year-old, could endure.
It’s uncertain how long Woods’ recovery period will last, but there’s a pervasive sense of sadness and disappointment that he won’t be competing at the Masters.
Woods’ recent struggles with physical fitness have been apparent, especially at critical junctures. Despite making it to the course, he has consistently grappled with maintaining a steady performance. He pulled out early from the Genesis Invitational but managed a 60th place finish at the Masters.
However, his performance waned at the PGA Championship, the US Open, and The Open, with Rapaport remarking on Woods’ lackluster results in the four years since his accident. The best finish Woods could muster in the past four years was a T45 at the Genesis Invitational.
Rapaport broached the subject of Woods’ injury in relation to golf legend Bernhard Langer, who suffered a similar injury last February. Langer managed a swift recovery, but Rapaport cautioned against drawing parallels between the two, especially given Woods’ recent emotional upheaval following the death of his mother.
The analyst acknowledged that while Langer, despite being 18 years Woods’ senior, was in better physical condition, coming back from an Achilles injury is a daunting task even for those at the peak of their careers. He concluded, voicing the unspoken concern of many, if Woods’ heart isn’t fully invested into his recovery, his return remains uncertain.