Gary Player Predicts Tiger Woods' Struggles After Achilles Surgery

On Tuesday, it emerged that Gary Player believed that Tiger Woods would not be able to walk Augusta National at The Masters next month, and a few hours later, the 15-time major winner confirmed he had undergone surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon.

That effectively rules Woods out for The Masters and likely the other three majors in 2025. It’s unlikely Player knew of the Achilles issue of Woods, and before that, the playing prospects of the 49-year-old already seemed dire this year.

Woods has had so many health challenges over the last few years, especially after a serious car crash in February 2021 that badly injured his ankle. It was seen as a remarkable achievement that he could even walk normally again.

Since that accident four years ago, Woods has played in 11 tournaments and missed four cuts.

Back surgery, precious little time on the course for Tiger Woods

More recently, Woods had back surgery in September last year and only returned to golf in December in the father-son event PNC Championship, where he managed to walk 54 holes.

That’s been the only appearance he has made on a golf course in front of TV audiences since, and now he will have even more time out of the game.

Before the news of Woods’s surgery broke, the 89-year-old Player said: “I’m such an admirer of Tiger Woods. You know, he did what he did for golf around the world is remarkable.

“The same as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus and a host of players,” Player told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interview.

“And, but you know, Tiger Woods’s … legs, your legs are what carry you around. Your legs are what hit the ball, not your hands.”

“And his legs are not in good shape. And The Masters, what people don't understand, look at that tournament. It's uphill and it's downhill and it's sidehill. And that is tough, tough on the legs.”

“I don't know if he can walk around there. We hope he'll play. Everybody wants to see him play.”

@Michael Sherman