Tiger Woods doubtful for 151st Open after undergoing ankle surgery

Hopes of Tiger Woods teeing up in the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool in July appear to be slim after the 15-time major winner underwent ankle surgery on Wednesday.
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Tiger Woods of the USA walking up to the 18th green during the third round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Tiger Woods of the USA walking up to the 18th green during the third round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Tiger Woods of the USA walking up to the 18th green during the third round of the 2023 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Woods had a subtalar fusion procedure performed in New York after looking to be in a poor way before withdrawing during The Masters a week past Sunday.

According to a post from his foundation via his Twitter account, the surgery addressed his “post-traumatic arthritis from his previous talus fracture”. That occurred during the car crash in Los Angeles in February 2021 that saw Woods suffer serious leg injuries and sidelined him for more than a year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The surgery, which was performed by Dr Martin O’Malley at HSS Special Medicine Institute in New York, may have ended the 47-year-old’s 2023 campaign.

Dr Bill Mallon, a former PGA Tour player who is now an orthopedic surgeon, wrote on Twitter: “Can he play golf again? Yes, but that’s at least six months to a year in the future. His tournaments for 2023 are likely over, and I would not be surprised to not see him play again until Augusta 2024.

“Can he play golf well again? Depends on your definition of well. He’ll never be the Tiger of 2000 or even 2015. The fact that this is his right foot/ankle is the saving grace, as you need motion in your left foot/ankle as you roll over it near impact.”

After making the cut for the 23rd consecutive year, Woods withdrew from The Masters following the suspension of the third round and before the resumption of play the following morning. In a video clip, the five-time winner was limping badly after playing a shot at the 17th hole and later announced that he had a recurrence of plantar fasciitis.

Woods has competed in just five official events since returning to action following his car crash at the 2022 Masters. He has said on a number of occasions that his goal was to play “in the major championships and maybe a couple more”.

Woods won The Open at Royal Liverpool in 2006, when he famously hit just one driver the whole week on a fast-running course.

Speaking at a media event at the Merseyside venue on Wednesday before the news broke about Woods having undergone his latest surgery, The R&A’s communications director, Mike Woodcock, acknowledged the three-time winner’s presence was always a boost for The Open.

“Hoylake has a fantastic array of champions, with Tiger and Rory [McIlroy] being the latest winners, and, of course, we’d want to see Tiger back here in July,” said Woodcock. “He makes a huge difference to any championship he’s in and we’d love to see him here, but we’ll have to wait and see how he is.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After missing the cut in last year’s event at St Andrews, Woods admitted that he didn’t know if he’d be back there for another appearance in the event. He then said in December that his final hurrah at the home of golf might have to be a game with his son, Charlie.

If he is forced to sit out the event in July, the next opportunity for Woods to play in The Open would be the 2024 edition at Royal Troon, where he missed out in 2016 due to back trouble.

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.