Tiger Woods' Hospitalization: What We Know So Far

Tiger Woods has been in and out of the hospital since his near-fatal car crash in 2021. The golf legend has undergone multiple surgeries to repair his right leg and ankle, which were severely injured in the accident. In addition, Woods has struggled with back issues and has had several major surgeries to address nerve impingement in his lower back. Despite his injuries, Woods has continued to push himself physically, leading to a ruptured left Achilles tendon in 2025. Following surgery, Woods is now recovering at home.

Tiger Woods' injury history

Tiger Woods has undergone several surgeries and suffered numerous injuries throughout his golfing career. His injury woes began in 1994 when, at 18 years old, he had surgery to remove benign tumours and scar tissue from his left knee.

In 2002, Woods underwent surgery again, this time to remove a benign cyst and drain fluid from his left knee. He bounced back to win the Buick Invitational in 2003. In April 2008, he had arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage to the same knee and it was revealed that he had stress fractures in his left tibia. Just two months later, he underwent reconstructive surgery on the ACL in his left knee. In December 2008, Woods tore his right Achilles tendon, an injury that resurfaced several times in 2009. In 2010, he withdrew from the Players Championship due to neck pain. In 2011, he suffered a mild MCL sprain and a mild strain to his left Achilles tendon, forcing him out for several months.

Woods' back became a major issue in 2014, when he had his first surgery to repair a pinched nerve. This marked the beginning of chronic back problems that would require multiple surgeries. He underwent a second microdiscectomy surgery in 2015, followed by another procedure in 2017: spinal fusion surgery. By 2021, Woods had undergone four back surgeries and his future in the sport was uncertain. That year, he was involved in a serious car crash in Southern California, sustaining "significant" injuries to his right leg and ankle. Doctors inserted a rod, screws, and pins to stabilize his leg.

Most recently, in March 2025, Woods underwent surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, which he tore during practice at home. He is currently recovering and it is unclear when he will return to the golf course.

His recent surgeries

Tiger Woods has undergone several surgeries in recent years, with the most recent being a procedure on his ruptured left Achilles tendon in March 2025. This surgery was necessary after Woods experienced a sharp pain in his left Achilles tendon during training. The operation was described as minimally invasive, and Woods has since been focused on his recovery and rehabilitation.

Prior to this, Woods had surgery on his back in September 2024. This was his sixth back surgery, with the first one taking place in April 2014. The 2024 procedure was a microdecompression surgery performed on his lumbar spine by Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi of the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida. The surgery aimed to alleviate the back spasms and pain Woods had been experiencing throughout the 2024 season.

Woods has also undergone multiple surgeries to treat injuries to his right leg and foot following a car crash in 2021. He suffered comminuted open fractures to the upper and lower sections of his right leg, as well as severe trauma to his right ankle. Doctors inserted a rod, screws, and pins to stabilize Woods' leg, and he underwent a subtalar fusion procedure for his ankle.

In addition to these recent procedures, Woods has a history of other surgeries, including operations on his knee. In December 2002, he had surgery to remove fluid from around the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of his left knee, and in April 2008, he underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage to the same knee.

The impact on his golf career

Tiger Woods' golf career has been significantly impacted by his 2021 car crash. The crash resulted in multiple leg injuries, including comminuted open fractures to the upper and lower parts of his right leg and severe trauma to his right ankle. Woods underwent surgery, with a rod, screws, and pins inserted to stabilize his leg. This was not the first time Woods had faced injuries—he had previously undergone several major back surgeries, including a microdiscectomy procedure just a few months before the crash.

The impact of the crash on Woods' golf career became evident as he had to withdraw from several tournaments and take a step back from competitive golf. Woods missed the Farmers Insurance Open and Riviera's Genesis Invitational, where he was the tournament host. He also had to skip the Masters in 2021, a tournament he had long awaited to defend his title, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Woods' return to competitive golf was gradual and cautious. In December 2021, he made his comeback at the PNC Championship, playing alongside his son, Charlie. However, he emphasized that he was not yet ready for a PGA Tour event, citing challenges with walking 72 holes. In February 2022, as the host of the Genesis Invitational, Woods expressed his intention to play on the Tour that year but acknowledged the uncertainty of his return timeline.

Despite his determination, Woods' injuries continued to affect his performance and participation in tournaments. In March 2025, he underwent surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon, sidelining him indefinitely once again. It remains unclear when Woods will be back on the golf course, and questions arise about his future in competitive golf. While he has expressed his goal of playing in the four major championships each season, the impact of his injuries and recovery process may shape the remaining trajectory of his illustrious career.

His recovery and rehab process

Tiger Woods has struggled with various injuries and addiction issues in recent years. In 2021, he nearly lost his right leg following a car crash in Southern California. Woods has also undergone several major back surgeries, which have significantly impacted his ability to compete in golf tournaments. In addition to his physical injuries, Woods has battled addiction to prescription painkillers, Vicodin, and Ambien.

In 2020, Woods enrolled in rehab to address his addiction to prescription medications. He entered a six-week inpatient rehab program in Mississippi in 2009 and also sought treatment at The Meadows treatment center in Wickenburg, Arizona, in 2010. Woods' DUI arrest served as a reminder of the dangers of prescription drug misuse.

In March 2025, Woods underwent surgery for a ruptured left Achilles tendon, an injury he sustained while training at home. He underwent a minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair procedure performed by Dr. Charlton Stucken at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida. Woods stated that he would be focusing on his recovery and rehab and was unsure when he would return to the golf course. It was estimated that he would need a minimum of four to six months to recover.

Woods has spoken openly about the physical toll that his surgeries and injuries have taken on his body. He has also mentioned that walking the course for four straight days due to his leg and back injuries has been a significant challenge. Despite his determination to return to competitive golf, Woods has had to cut down his playing schedule considerably. He set himself a new goal of participating in the four major championships each season, along with a few additional events.

Woods' future plans

Tiger Woods is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time. However, Woods has struggled with various injuries in recent years, including several major back surgeries and a car crash in 2021 that nearly cost him his right leg. Woods has also faced setbacks due to allergies and the physical toll taken by his surgeries.

In March 2025, Woods underwent surgery for a ruptured left Achilles tendon, an injury he sustained while training at home. In a statement, Woods shared that he planned to "focus on [his] recovery and rehab" following the surgery. While it is unclear how long Woods will be sidelined, he has said that his goal is to play in the four major championships each season, with a few additional events.

Woods's future plans appear to be centred around his recovery and a potential return to competitive golf. Woods has stated that simply walking the course for four straight days is a challenge due to his leg and back injuries. Given these injuries, it is uncertain how long Woods will continue to compete on the PGA Tour, even in a limited capacity.

In the short term, Woods will likely focus on his rehabilitation. The most realistic return to competitive golf could be the Genesis Invitational next season, an event that Woods hosts annually. Woods may also participate in other unofficial Tour events, such as the Hero World Challenge and the parent-child PNC Championship.

Outside of competitive golf, Woods has been involved in other golf-related endeavours. Woods's TGL series, a tech-infused golf league, concluded its inaugural season in March 2025 with a cryptic announcement teasing future plans. Additionally, Woods has taken on two golf course design projects, one in North Carolina and another in Mexico, although both have encountered delays and financial issues.

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