Tiger Woods: A Year To Forget

The Wyndham Championship takes place on the PGA Tour this week. It was at the same event last 12 months ago that Tiger Woods made his most recent competitive appearance.

The year since then is probably one that Tiger – and his legion of fans – would like to have the opportunity to do over, with the former world No.1 and 14-time major winner sidelined following back surgery last September.

The official line is that there is ‘no timetable’ for his return to professional golf. Indeed, some are convinced that he’ll never make it back.

Here, we chart the key moments and dates in what has been the most tormented year in Tiger Woods’ career so far…

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August 23, 2015

Cards 70 to finish in a tie for tenth at the Wyndham Championship, his best finish of the season. The following morning, he climbs to 257th on the Official World Golf Rankings.

September 16

Undergoes surgery in Park City, Utah, in an attempt to cure a long-standing back problem.

September 18

Announces news of surgery through his website. “This is unfortunate but these things happen,” he writes. “I’ve been injured before and played again. It won’t be any different this time.”

October 4

Drops out of world’s top 300. Ranked 311th.

October 28

Woods has a follow-up procedure to ‘relieve discomfort’ following microdiscectomy on Sept 16.

October 30

A statement on Woods’ website says that the former world No.1 is ‘on bed rest’ following Oct 28 procedure and that he will miss a site visit to his Bluejack National course design project on November 5.

December 3

Addresses media ahead of Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, where he appears downcast on his future prospects. “I think pretty much everything beyond this point will be gravy,” he says, adding that he hasn’t hit a golf shot in two months.

December 6

Drops out of world’s top 300. Ranked 411th.

December 22

In a lengthy blog post on his website, he writes: “Where do I see myself in the next five to 10 years? I am still playing golf at the highest level and winning tournaments and major championships.” Of the 2016 season, he adds: “The thing I’m looking forward to the most about 2016 is getting back out there again. I’ve missed it, and I would like to do it pain-free. I haven’t done that in what seems like a long time.”

December 30

Celebrates 40th birthday.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes. 40 is cool.

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) December 31, 2015

January 1, 2016

Starts the year in 413th place on the official world golf rankings, down from 30th on January 1, 2015.

A Tiger Update for you all. #SecretTourPro pic.twitter.com/khogTidE1v

— Secret Tour Pro (@secrettourpro) February 21, 2016

February 21

Enigmatic Twitter user @SecretTourPro posts a ‘Tiger Update’, which says that Woods’ physical condition has ‘got worse’ since Christmas. “At current he can only walk for around 30-45 minutes, and sitting in a chair is no longer possible, he lays down the majority of the time,” says STP, adding that his projected return at The Players Championship in May is “off completely now”.

Progressing nicely. pic.twitter.com/HKnnluR1OW

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) February 24, 2016

February 24

Woods tweets a video of himself hitting shots in his indoor simulator, with the caption: ‘Progressing nicely’. He is also named as a Ryder Cup vice-captain by Davis Love III for the 2016 match at Hazeltine National.

March 2

In a blog post on his website, Woods says: “I am starting to feel a lot better. I have been chipping and putting at home, and recently started hitting 9-irons… My short game feels pretty sharp. While there is no timetable on my return to competitive golf, I want to play this game at the highest level again. In order to do that, I have to get healthy.”

April 1

Confirms that he will not compete in the Masters. “I’ve been hitting balls and training daily, but I’m not physically ready,” he says.

April 24

Plays a few holes at the opening of Bluejack National. “I know people have said I’ve played holes at Medalist, but I haven’t,” he says afterwards. “This is actually the first time I’ve played since Wyndham. It’s been a while.”

May 1

Drops out of world’s top 500. Ranked 508th.

May 16

Attends a press event for his Quicken Loans tournament at Congressional Country Club, where, live on national television, he dunks three consecutive shots into the water from 102 yards. “Boy, I’m stiff,” he says.

June 7

Announces that he will miss both the Quicken Loans National and US Open. “While I continue to work hard on getting healthy, I am not physically ready to play in this year’s US Open and the Quicken Loans National,” he tells his website. “I am making progress, but I’m not yet ready for tournament competition.

June 22

Attends Quicken Loans National where he admits that, whilst improving, he’s still not at a stage where can ‘play 18 holes out here and go to the range for an hour and work on my game’.

July 3

Drops out of world’s top 600. Ranked 605th.

July 19

Agent Mark Steinberg, above, reveals that Woods will miss the remainder of the 2015/16 PGA Tour season. “ will continue rehab and world hard to then assess when he starts play for the ‘16/’17 season,” says Steinberg.

July 28

The 2016 PGA Championship gets underway without Woods – the first time in his professional career that Tiger has missed all four majors in a calendar year.

August 15

Falls to 672nd on Official World Golf Rankings.

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Tiger Woods: Will we ever see him win again?

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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor