What happened to Tiger Woods? Details of His Accident and Recovery
by A Maria
Updated Apr 10, 2023
Who is Tiger Woods?
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods was born on December 30, 1975, and is a professional golfer from America. He has won numerous awards and is tied for first place in PGA Tour wins, ranks second in men's major championships, and has set various golf records. Considered one of the greatest golfers of all time and one of the most well-known athletes in modern history, Woods has been inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. After a successful junior, college, and amateur golf career, Woods turned professional at the age of 20 in 1996. He quickly achieved success and won three PGA Tour events and his first major, the 1997 Masters, in April of that year with a record-breaking 12-stroke victory. By June 1997, he had become the number one golfer in the Official World Golf Ranking, less than a year after turning pro.
What happened to Tiger Woods?
Tiger Woods, the five-time Masters Champion, struggled during the first day of the 2023 Masters, scoring 2-over 74, which was visible to fans watching at Augusta National Golf Club. The reason for his poor performance is his right leg, which was severely injured in a car accident on February 23, 2021. As a result, he underwent multiple surgeries, and his leg was stabilized with a rod. Even his caddie, Joe LaCava, acknowledged that the car accident had a significant impact on Woods, not just physically but also mentally. LaCava noted that Woods was trying hard to block out the pain, which was affecting him mentally. Woods is paired with Viktor Hovland and Xander Schauffele, and while both have had a good start to the tournament, Woods is currently on T-50 after the second round.
Tiger Woods spoke about his “constant pain” while playing at the Masters 2023
Tiger Woods, who is participating in his 25th Master's tournament, expressed his disappointment after the first round of the Augusta Masters 2023, stating that he has not been fast enough due to the rod in his right leg. He had two three-putts, resulting in him being a couple of strokes over par. Woods hoped to perform better by getting his irons close enough in subsequent rounds. However, he acknowledged that he did not give himself enough opportunities for birdies during the first round.
Woods explained that his left leg was fine, but the right leg, which had the rod inserted, was creating problems for him. He arrived at the Masters after a two-month break from the Genesis Invitational and was optimistic about his performance. However, during the pre-tournament press conference, Woods admitted that the physical aspect of the game is challenging for him. He also said that he was uncertain if other golfers still consider him a threat to win the green jacket.
Tiger Woods is a legendary golfer who has won five green jackets in his career and is considered one of the most successful golfers of the modern era. Although he plans to compete in only major events in the future, it would not be surprising if he decides to retire from the sport.
How did Tiger Woods met with an accident?
After being involved in a single-car accident on February 23, 2021, Tiger Woods was hospitalized in serious but stable condition. He suffered compound fractures in his right leg and a shattered ankle, and underwent emergency surgery to repair the injuries. In November 2021, in an interview with Golf Digest, Woods revealed that his days as a full-time professional golfer were over, but he planned to play a few events per year. Woods returned to the PGA Tour for the first time since the accident at the 2022 Masters.
On February 23, 2021, Tiger Woods was involved in a single-car accident outside of Los Angeles, resulting in serious injuries to his right leg. Woods was hospitalized at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and underwent emergency surgery for "comminuted open fractures" in his tibia and fibula, along with damage to his ankle bones, muscles, and soft tissue. He received a rod to stabilize his right leg, and screws and pins were used to secure the bones in his foot and ankle. A neighbor called 911 to alert authorities of the accident, and Woods was conscious when they arrived on the scene. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported that there was no evidence of impairment and that Woods was wearing a seatbelt, which likely saved his life. The interior of the SUV remained intact, and Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, issued a statement requesting privacy and support for the golfer. In November 2021, Woods announced in an interview with Golf Digest that his full-time career as a professional golfer was over and that he would only compete in a few events per year. He returned to the PGA Tour for the first time since the accident at the 2022 Masters.
Professional career of Tiger Woods
When Woods turned professional at the age of 20 in August 1996, he signed endorsement deals with Nike, Inc., and Titleist, which were the most lucrative endorsement contracts in golf history at that time. This led to him being named Sports Illustrated's 1996 Sportsman of the Year and PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. At the age of 21, he won his first major, the Masters, in record-breaking fashion on April 13, 1997, becoming the youngest winner of the tournament. Additionally, he set the record for the fastest ascent to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking just two months later. After a lackluster 1998, Woods bounced back in 1999 and finished the season with eight wins, including the PGA Championship, a feat that hadn't been achieved since Johnny Miller did it in 1974. Woods was known to be severely myopic, with an eye rating of 11 diopters. To address this issue, he underwent successful laser eye surgery in 1999, which allowed him to resume winning tour events. However, in 2007, his vision began to deteriorate again, and he had to undergo a second laser eye surgery.
The net worth of Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods, a professional golfer from the United States, has a net worth of $800 million. He earns approximately $50-60 million annually, and between June 2019 and June 2020, he earned $63 million from his multiple sources of income. Since his professional debut in 1996, Woods' earnings exceed $1.7 billion, which, adjusting for inflation, surpasses $2 billion. He holds the title of the highest-earning golfer of all time and was the world's highest-earning celebrity for several years.
What happened to Tiger Woods - FAQs
Tiger Woods was born on December 30, 1975.
Tiger Woods is known for being one of the greatest golfers of all time and for setting various golf records.
Tiger Woods is tied for first place in PGA Tour wins.
Tiger Woods ranks second in men's major championships.
Yes, Tiger Woods has been inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.