Tiger Woods has suffered another major setback in his storied career, announcing on Tuesday that he has ruptured his Achilles tendon and undergone surgery.
The 15-time major champion is now almost certainly set to miss The Masters next month.
Woods was preparing for his comeback at home in Florida when he experienced a “sharp pain” in his left heel.
The injury comes after a lengthy period away from competitive golf, with Woods not having played at Tour-level since The Open last summer.
Tiger Woods has suffered another major setback in his storied career, announcing on Tuesday that he has ruptured his Achilles tendon and undergone surgery
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ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has sparked controversy by labelling Woods a “recreational golfer” following the injury announcement.
“I mean no disrespect. To me, Tiger Woods is a recreational golfer at this point,” Smith said on First Take.
“We know how he’s the all-time greatest, we get that. But his health is so bad. He’s gone through so many physical tragedies.”
Smith went further, questioning Woods’ ability to complete tournaments.
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Stephen A. Smith: “I mean no disrespect. To me, Tiger Woods is a recreational golfer at this point… walking the 18-hole course is not something he can do anymore and that has been the case for years.” pic.twitter.com/NTbPCqiKhl
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 12, 2025
“I literally look at Tiger Woods and I don’t even think about his game, you know what I think about? One day, because that’s all you got. You walk 18 holes, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday – he ain’t making it.”
Smith’s comments drew immediate backlash from golf fans on social media platform X.
“‘I mean no disrespect’ then proceeds to disrespect,” one fan wrote.
Another described Smith as a “recreational thinker” whose “brain only works about 1/16th of the time.”
“The only thing you exercise is your big mouth,” a third critic added.
Not all reactions were negative, with one fan calling it “the first correct statement he’s made in a very long time.”
Others defended Woods, with one describing him as “the most resilient athlete in my lifetime when it comes to recovering from numerous injuries.”
In a statement, Woods explained the circumstances of his injury: “As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left heel, which was deemed to be ruptured.”
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The surgery was performed by Dr. Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Dr. Stucken confirmed: “The surgery went smoothly, and we expect a full recovery.”
Woods added: “I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab, thank you for all the support.”
The procedure was described as a “minimally-invasive Achilles tendon repair.”
Woods’ latest injury adds to an extensive history of physical setbacks throughout his career.
Tiger Woods has been plagued by injuries in recent years, with Stephen A Smith sparking a backlash for his comments on the golf icon
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He has undergone six back surgeries in the past decade alone.
In 2021, Woods was involved in a horrific car accident that nearly cost him his right leg.
He has also suffered from ruptured ligaments in his left knee.
Woods has not competed at The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s flagship event, since 2019.
There had been speculation about his return at this week’s Players Championship in Florida, but he missed Friday’s entry deadline.