Darren Riel/Golf
The chances of Tiger Woods appearing at the PGA Championship in Oak Hill next month, or any other event this year for that matter, have taken a huge hit.
Woods’ team announced on Twitter Wednesday that he underwent a “subosseous fusion procedure for post-traumatic arthritis from his previous ankle fracture.”
“Performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley at the HSS Sports Medicine Institute in New York City,” the statement read. “He has determined that the surgery was successful. Tiger is currently recovering and is looking forward to starting his rehabilitation.”
According to the site FootcareMD.orgThe subtalar fusion procedure takes the two bones that make up the subtalar joint, the talus and the heel bone, and fuses them together. The joint allows side-to-side movement of the foot and ankle, so incorporation means that a patient recovering will require getting used to walking on uneven surfaces.
After surgery, the patient’s foot must be weight-bearing for six weeks and remain in a shoe or cast for 8-12 weeks.
Woods withdrew during the third round of the Masters two weeks ago. It was his second event of the season and fifth overall since returning from a major car accident in early 2021 that nearly had his right leg amputated.
At the time of the withdrawal, Woods cited a recurrence of plantar fasciitis that had forced him to miss the world champion’s challenge the previous December. Videos went viral on social media of Woods struggling to walk the Augusta National.
Before pulling out, Woods had made the cut, earning him a share of the record for all-time consecutive cuts in a Masters tournament with Fred Kobles and Gary Player at the age of 23.
Woods also pulled out after making the cut at the 2022 PGA Championship. On Masters Sunday, Jason Day said Woods told him the reason Woods couldn’t continue in the South Hills was because a nail pierced his skin.