Tiger Woods has withdrawn himself from contention in the Masters Tournament. Woods left with a foot injury before play resumed at Augusta National Golf Club early on Sunday morning.
Woods has been battling near-constant injuries following his car crash in 2021. The 15-time major winner is no stranger to playing through injuries, as he famously won the 2008 Masters with a fractured leg. However, Father Time is slowly catching up with Tiger. It is harder for him to compete in recent times in general, let alone having to deal with the injuries that he has sustained.
Woods has been perhaps one of, if not the most prominent athlete in any sport over the past 30 years. The 15-time major winner has been the face of the PGA tour for a generation, but at forty-seven he is not the superstar he once was. The World Golf Hall of Famer has been absent from many majors in recent years due to seemingly never-ending injuries. The rainy conditions did not help either as it made it harder for Woods to compete at his best due to the elements. Woods has not won a major since 2019. Before that, it was his famous Masters’ win in 2008.
Woods’ inability to stay healthy has certainly been a key reason why, among other personal issues have been well documented. However, no one doubts that Tiger Woods can still play golf it is just a matter of how long he can stay healthy.
Woods now looks to figure out what is next for him after this disappointing early exit from the tournament. It appears to be one setback after another. The competition level for Woods is also very high right now, as the PGA tour has several incredible rising stars and competition is tight during most tournaments.
The 2023 result disappoints many of Tiger’s fans as the window for him to be able to play great golf appears to be closing, with Woods stating that he is unsure of how many Masters he has left in him. It has been a question of whether or not in recent years Woods would be able to surpass the record of most major tournaments currently held by Jack Nicklaus. The possibility seems significantly lower due to all of the injuries Woods has sustained. What occurred during the 2023 Masters is another obstacle holding Woods back from catching up to or breaking the record.
It remains to be seen how much golf Woods has left to play at this level and stage of his career. If he has any hope of returning to his prior form, the eleven-time PGA Player of the Year has a long road ahead and time is not in his favor.