Tiger Woods‘ latest surgery has once again cast a shadow over hopes of seeing him make a competitive return.
Just when fans began to believe the golf legend might be ready to step back onto the course after he was seen taking practice swings at Liberty National Golf Club in September, Woods confirmed he had undergone a seventh lower back surgery, halting any speculation of an imminent comeback.
This new procedure adds to a long history of injuries that have plagued Woods since the 2021 car accident that nearly ended his career.
The news has prompted widespread concern across the golf world, including from former PGA Tour winner Johnson Wagner, who now fears the sport may have witnessed Woods‘ final major appearance.
Appearing on a recent episode of Trey Wingo‘s podcast, Wagner reflected on what Woods has meant to golf and why his potential retirement would mark the end of an era.
“Anybody who played in the post-Tiger Woods era on the PGA Tour needs to probably give him about 25 percent of their career earnings,” Wagner said. “That’s what he did for the game and for professional golfers. Every event he played in felt completely different from any other event.”
Wagner’s prediction
As much as Wagner praised Woods‘ contributions, he also expressed a sobering assessment of the future. The former pro believes the 15-time major champion’s body has simply endured too much punishment to recover for another run at a major title.
“I say that because I have so much respect for him and admiration for what he did,” Wagner said.
“But I’m going to say this: I don’t think we’ll ever see him play in another major championship. He’s always been the guy that said he’s not going to be a ceremonial golfer. I just don’t see a world where we see him play in the Masters again. It makes me very sad. I just think his body is just beaten down, and I don’t think he can do it anymore.”
The reality of seven back surgeries, plus an Achilles tendon operation earlier this year, has made every comeback more difficult.
Host Trey Wingo asked Wagner whether Woods‘ path might have been different had he accepted a medical exemption to use a golf cart after his 2021 crash. Some speculated that saving his body from the strain of walking might have extended his career.
“The couple of events he has played since the car crash and before the last couple of surgeries, you could tell, like the ball striking is still there,” Wingo said.
“I’ve had people tell me that if he would have taken a medical exemption and taken a cart before the most recent surgery, he’d probably win two or three tournaments a year. Do you think that would have been possible had he decided to do something like that?
“I don’t think that he would ever take a cart. So it’s hard to even say. The Achilles issue that he just had, and now another back surgery, I just think it’s added up.”
He continued, “I don’t think even with a cart. I think the game has gotten younger. Everybody’s hitting the ball so far. Everybody’s so good. I don’t think even with Tiger Woods in a cart right now, I don’t think he would be able to win.”
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