Looks as if we won’t be seeing Tiger Woods play golf any time soon.
On Wednesday, Woods announced he had undergone a subtalar fusion procedure to address his post-traumatic arthritis from his previous talus fracture.
A talus fracture is a break in one of the bones that forms the ankle. The subtalar fusion is used to help relieve pain in the joint beneath the ankle joint and correct deformities in the hindfoot caused by injury, arthritis or genetic defect.
Once a fusion heals together, according to footcaremed.org, “it acts as one unit and can restore function and provide significant pain relief.” Recovery from surgery will likely include the need for a boot or cast for up to three months. Footcaremed.org says:
Although partial weightbearing often is allowed within a few weeks after surgery, full weightbearing in shoes usually takes at least 8-12 weeks.
Twelve weeks from now is the Open Championship, July 20-23. The 2023 PGA Championship is May 18-21; the 2023 U.S. Open is June 15-18.
Woods withdrew before finishing the weather-delayed third round of the Masters after making a record-tying 23rd consecutive cut.
More: List of Tiger’s injuries through the years
Dr. Martin O’Malley at HSS Sports Medicine Institute in New York City performed the surgery, which was determined to be successful.
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 19, 2023
Although it’s unclear which ankle was performed on, Woods’ right leg is the one that suffered major damage as a result of a February 2021 car crash in California that nearly took his life.
No timetable was given for his recovery, but the statement said Woods was recovering and looking forward to beginning rehab.
Since the car crash, Woods has competed in four tournaments, making the cut twice at the Masters and the PGA Championship last year at Southern Hills. He missed the cut in the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews and withdrew following the third round at Southern Hills.