Doctor reveals when we'll next see Tiger Woods, and it's not good news!

Orthopaedic surgeon and former PGA Tour player believes Tiger Woods will not play again until the 2024 Masters.

20 Apr 2023

Doctor reveals when we'll next see Tiger Woods, and it's not good news!

Orthopaedic surgeon and former PGA Tour player Bill Mallon believes Tiger Woods will not play a competitive tournament again until the 2024 Masters.

Woods, who withdrew during round three at The Masters, underwent surgery in New York on Wednesday to address post-traumatic stress in his right ankle that was caused by injuries he suffered when crashing his SUV in the hills of Los Angeles in 2021.

The 15-time major champion posted a statement on his own social media stating that Dr. Martin O'Malley at HSS Sports Medicine Institute performed the subtalar fusion procedure to address the arthritis caused by a previous talus fracture.

Here's everything you need to know about Woods' latest injury.

So when will Tiger Woods return?

Woods will not be able to hit balls again for at least another six months at the earliest, according to Dr Mallon.

That would mean Woods will miss the remainder of this season on the PGA Tour and be out of all three remaining majors - the US PGA, US Open and The Open. In fact Dr Mallon believes we won't see Woods in competitive action for a year, and he expects his return to come at the 2024 Masters.

Dr Mallon tweeted a lengthy thread after hearing Woods' latest news:

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. 15/end
— Bill Mallon (@bambam1729) April 19, 2023

"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."

Mallon never won in four seasons on the PGA Tour between 1975 and 1979.

He did pick up three top-10 finishes with a best finish of tied fifth at the 1977 Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open.

Is the end nigh for Tiger Woods now? Do you think it's time he hung up his spikes on the PGA Tour? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.