Tiger Woods has undergone procedure to address post-traumatic arthritis; Woods withdrew from The Masters earlier this month ahead of final round; Dr Bill Mallon, orthopaedic surgeon and former PGA Tour player, expects 15-time major champion to be out for at least six months
Thursday 20 April 2023 12:55, UK
Tiger Woods has undergone "successful" ankle surgery following his withdrawal from The Masters - but could be out for at least six months, according to orthopaedic surgeon and former PGA Tour player Dr Bill Mallon.
The 15-time major champion pulled out of this year's tournament at Augusta National ahead of the resumption of the third round on the final Sunday due to reaggravating his plantar fasciitis.
An update posted on Woods' social media on Wednesday confirmed he has since had surgery to address arthritis stemming from ankle problems.
"Earlier today, Tiger Woods underwent a subtalar fusion procedure to address post-traumatic arthritis from his previous talus fracture," the statement said.
"It was performed by Dr Martin O'Malley at HSS Sports Medicine Institute in New York City. He has determined the surgery to be successful. Tiger is currently recovering and looks forward to beginning his rehabilitation."
Woods, 47, appears a major doubt for next month's PGA Championship, with his chances of playing at the US Open in June and Open Championship in July also unclear.
Dr Mallon wrote on Twitter: "It usually takes 6 weeks to 3 months for the fusion to take effect, and Tiger will have limited weight-bearing during that time, which again will be at the surgeon's discretion, and also depends on how the fusion is healing.
"Can he play golf again? Yes, but that's at least 6 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."
Woods, making just his second start of the year in The Masters, battled cold and wet conditions to close a second-round 74 on Saturday morning and secure a record-equalling 23rd consecutive cut in the tournament.
He snuck through on the cut mark of three over, despite bogeying his final two holes, with Woods falling further behind after a nightmare start to his third round.
Woods looked in physical discomfort as he made two bogeys and two double-bogeys over his first seven holes, leaving the former world No 1 on nine over for the tournament and bottom of the leaderboard by three shots.
He subsequently elected against returning to play what would have been an extended Sunday for him and has only completed 72 holes twice since career-threatening leg injuries in a car crash in February 2021.
Woods withdrew from the Hero World Challenge last November with plantar fasciitis too, although played at the PNC Championship later that month and featured at February's Genesis Invitational.
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