Tiger Woods might not be able to play golf again until the 2024 Masters after ankle surgery on Wednesday, according to Bill Mallon, an ex-PGA Tour professional who is now a surgeon.
Woods underwent a procedure in New York on Wednesday that was described as successful, 10 days after withdrawing from The Masters after having reaggravated plantar fasciitis at Augusta.
No timeline was given for any potential return in his statement, but Maher has provided a breakdown of what the surgery is and what it means for any hopes of Woods getting back into the game in a competitive capacity.
In a lengthy thread of tweets, Mallon, an orthopedic surgeon, explained: ‘Tiger will be in either a cast, a splint, or a boot for a period of time – its at the surgeon’s discretion. He will likely get around using a rolling stroller, in which you rest your knee on a padded surface, bend your knee, and that leg will roll along.
‘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 six 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 August 2024.
‘Can he play golf well again? It 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 or ankle is the saving grace, as you need motion in your left foot or ankle as you roll over it near impact.’
Source: Mailonline
