Compleat Golfer takes a look at the timeline of Tiger Woods’ ups and downs, involving numerous injuries and his heroic comeback in 2019.
June 2008: Woods wins the US Open, despite severe damage to his left knee and tibia. It would be his last Major victory for 11 years.
May 2010: He withdraws from the PLAYERS Championship due to a neck problem, which was later confirmed as an inflamed facet joint.
April-May 2011: Woods pulls out of the Wells Fargo Championship and the PLAYERS Championship due to a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) and a strained achilles tendon in his left leg. He would spend three months on the sidelines.
March 2012: The achilles-tendon injuries continue to trouble Woods but he responds by winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
June 2013: Woods suffers an elbow strain that puts him out of action for several weeks. He would win five PGA Tour titles throughout 2013 but back spasms begin to hinder his progress, ultimately bringing a new injury worry.
April 2014: Woods withdraws from Masters participation for the first time in his career after undergoing back surgery. He spends more than four months out of action.
February 2015: Woods plays only 11 holes of the Farmers Insurance Open before having to pull out due to back pain.
September 2015: He undergoes microdiscectomy surgery for the second time in less than a year and a half.
October 2015: A follow-up procedure is required to better handle pain and discomfort from his back.
April 2016: Woods misses the Masters for a second time, while still recovering and continuing his rehab process.
February 2017: Back spasms again cause Woods a lot of discomfort, forcing him to withdraw midway through the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
April 2017: Woods undergoes a fourth back surgery, removing a damaged disc. He falls to 788th in the world rankings.
May 2017: Woods is arrested near his home in Florida after appearing to be driving under the influence of alcohol. Instead, he experienced an unexpected reaction to medication.
November 2017: He makes his long-awaited return to golf by competing at the Hero World Challenge.
September 2018: Woods claims a surprising and heroic victory at the Tour Championship. A week later he also competes for Team USA at the 2018 Ryder Cup.
March 2019: A minor neck problem puts him out of action for a short period but is deemed ready to compete at the Masters.
April 2019: Woods completes one of the great sporting comebacks, winning the Masters for a fifth time in his career. It was also his 15th Major title.
August 2019: Back pains continue to trouble him, while later that month he receives a minor procedure to his left knee.
March 2020: Stiffness in his back causes Woods to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
December 2020: Playing with his son Charlie at the PNC Championship, Woods complains of back aches again. He undergoes another microdiscectomy surgery to remove a disc fragment from his back.
February 2021: Woods appears as co-commentator at the Genesis Invitational where he hands over the trophy to tournament-winner Max Homa. Two days later he is involved in a serious car accident in Los Angeles, being hospitalised with multiple leg injuries.
