“I ruptured my Achilles last year. This is what faces Tiger Woods.”

Tiger Woods isn’t a doubt for the 2025 Masters. He’s a doubt for ever playing in the Masters again.

Whilst ramping up preparations for his latest return, most likely at Augusta National next month, Woods felt a sharp pain in his left Achilles.

It was worst case scenario. Woods suffered a ruptured tendon and later underwent minimally-invasive Achilles tendon repair in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Now, I’ve never slipped into a green jacket, never mind done it five times. But, for the first time ever, I can say that Woods and I have one thing in common.

On March 26, 2024, I ruptured my right Achilles tendon. So, when I say I know what he’s going through and has got coming, I’m speaking from very recent, very painful experience.

Last night, I spent an hour at the gym before massaging my leg for five minutes and placing ice over a scar roughly 40mm long.

With a bag of ice resting on my Achilles, I opened X to the news that Woods felt a ‘sharp pain’ in his left tendon. Those two words stuck out more any of the others he scribbled.

I was playing football when I planted my right foot and felt that sharp pain. Most people look back, as if to check for contact, but there never is. The tendon simply snaps, making a loud pop.

Where Woods might recover slightly quicker than most is that he had immediate surgery. It’s unclear exactly when the incident happened or the size of the rupture, but it was repaired swiftly.

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After my injury, I spent two days in a standard walking boot – used for fractures, sprains and tendon injuries – before being put in a VACOped boot. Four weeks later, the rupture hadn’t healed and, as it measured 35mm, surgery was the only option.

To heal the tendon, I wore a cast for two weeks before heading back into the VACOped boot for two months. Only after that period had I walked somewhat normally for the first time in four months.

Now, Woods has had more issues with his legs than most, and his Achilles tendons have felt wear and tear.

He tore his right Achilles tendon in 2008 and re-injured the tendon several times in 2009, yet continued to play. Then, he strained his left Achilles tendon in 2011 and re-injured it in 2012.

That weakness has undoubtedly played a part in his rupture and, if he felt pain there before, it’s set to get a whole lot worse.

Post-surgery, the pain is excruciating, and it doesn’t really relent in the weeks that follow. When he leaves the boot – possibly in June, based on my experience – Woods will be eased into a rehabilitation process and wear supportive footwear.

It’s a long, seemingly never-ending road to that point, when the 15-time major champ will then aim to build strength in his left ankle and calf, while restoring a normal walking pattern and start golf-specific rehabilitation exercises.

This is an easily overlooked aspect of recovery, but placing the tendon under intense scrutiny is the toughest part. Woods can expect more pain and plenty of swelling.

I swung a golf club for the first time in October, five months after undergoing surgery last May. Working through my wedges, I was able to get a feel for striking a ball, but that’s the easy part.

In my case, rotating through my right foot – my strong foot – took a while to overcome, physically and psychologically. In fact, it’s a test I’m still to pass with a driver in my hands and the significant loss of muscle mass becomes well-known.

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So, this all begs one question: When will Tiger Woods return?

Well, recovery is expected to take six to nine months, while a return to competitive sport may take up to one year.

It’s impossible to predict how Woods will recover but, if my own experiences are anything to go by, it’s bad news for his fans.

One misconception that must be dispelled, however, is that Bernhard Langer returned in three months, and so Woods will too. The German tore his Achilles tendon, a far less severe injury, especially if only partial.

And this is all without mentioning the mental toll of yet another injury blow for Woods. This setback is exactly that: back to the drawing board.

It’s the third time Woods has gone under the knife since 2023 but this will completely rule out his ability to walk before he can even begin rehabilitation.

While the Achilles surgery reportedly went smoothly, he has a gruelling new reality.

His legs might have recovered in time for a trip down Magnolia Lane next April, but at what point does Tiger Woods say enough is enough?

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.