Tiger Woods faces another extended spell away from golf after undergoing ankle surgery earlier this week.
After suffering multiple leg and ankle injuries in a car crash at the beginning of 2021, the career of the 15-time major champion was put in extreme doubt.
Woods came through over a year of rehabilitation to tee it up at the 2022 Masters, that being an achievement in itself before he remarkably recorded a 47th-placed finish at Augusta.
While the legendary American has made four further appearances over the past 12 months, the 47-year-old was forced to withdraw during the 2022 US PGA Championship and 2023 Masters earlier this month.
Woods was in visible pain as plantar fasciitis and the wet weather at the first major of the year substantially hindered his movement.
Although there had been hope that he may participate in one of the three majors that will be played between May and July, that is now realistically off the table.
Woods announced on Wednesday that he had undergone a 'subtalar fusion procedure' to help alleviate pain caused by arthritis in his right foot.
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 19, 2023
Although Woods has given no timescale to complete his rehabilitation, it is highly likely that a three-month period before the Open Championship will not be sufficient to make a return.
Darren Plant
