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11 hours ago
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The golf world just isn't the same when Tiger Woods isn't playing. While we all know his pro career is winding down, especially with his recent injury history, there is always hope that he will be able to hit the links for the major events on the golf calendar.
Woods tore his Achilles and had surgery for it in March 2025. It caused him to miss the 2025 Masters, PGA Championship, and U.S. Open. Now, the golf great is in danger of missing the 2025 Open Championship, also known as the British Open. He's won this major three times in his career (2000, 2005, and 2006), but he hasn't made the cut at the event since 2019 when he finished tied for 21st.
This year, the British Open is at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland. The last time the major was held here was in 2019, when Woods last made the cut at the event. With his Achilles recovery forcing him to miss the first three majors of the year, there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding his availability for the final major of 2025.
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Here's the latest on Tiger Woods' status for the 2025 British Open.
Is Tiger Woods playing in 2025 British Open?
Woods is still recovering from his Achilles surgery in March, so he will not be participating in the 2025 Open Championship. He fooled everyone in April with an Aprils Fools Day prank, saying that he was going to play in the Masters after a miraculous recovery, but then revealed that he would miss most, if not all, of the 2025 golf season.
Leading up to the 2025 British Open, Woods didn't drop another prank video. Instead, he released a video talking about the course and offering competitors some suggestions.
A tournament where adaptability and creative play define champions. #SunDayRed pic.twitter.com/odUVj7b05U
— SUN DAY RED (@SunDayRed) July 14, 2025Woods said, "It’s important to get off to a good start there. There are some par holes to open with, but when you get closer to the ocean, it’s a little bit different." He particularly pointed out the tough 236-yard No. 16 that is a par-3, saying, "I think that par three is all you want. It’s 240 [yards], slightly uphill, and you can’t go right — you’re dead if you go right. If you go left, there are some mounds. It’s one of the hardest par 3s I’ve ever played."
What happened to Tiger Woods?
Woods' career has been plagued by injuries of late, mainly affecting his legs and lower body. His latest injury was one of the worst of his career. Woods was starting to ramp up his workouts and training in early 2025 and suffered a torn left Achilles tendon. In a statement, Woods said that the surgery went well and that he is expected to make a full recovery.
As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured.
This morning, Dr. Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida performed a minimally-invasive Achilles tendon… pic.twitter.com/KAVZfcRxlE
Tiger Woods British Open history
Woods was able to play in the British Open in 2024, but he missed the cut. He missed the major entirely in 2021 and 2023, and he also missed the cut in 2022. Despite a bad stretch recently, Woods has had success at the British Open in the past. He won the major in 2000, 2005, and 2006, making him tied for the 11th most wins at the event.
| Year | Finish |
| 1995 | WD |
| 1996 | T22 |
| 1997 | T24 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | T7 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | T25 |
| 2002 | T38 |
| 2003 | T4 |
| 2004 | T9 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | T12 |
| 2009 | CUT |
| 2010 | T23 |
| 2012 | T3 |
| 2013 | T6 |
| 2014 | 69 |
| 2015 | CUT |
| 2018 | T6 |
| 2019 | CUT |
| 2022 | CUT |
| 2024 | CUT |
Tiger Woods Achilles recovery timeline
Woods expects to miss most of the 2025 golf season, if not all of it. There's a chance that he doesn't return to golf shape until 2026. Achilles injuries tend to take a year to recover from, and that is for athletes who are in their prime. Woods will turn 50 in December. There is hope that we not only see Woods back on a golf course at some point, but that he can also defy the odds and come back sooner than expected.
Tiger Woods injury history
In the latter half of his golf career, Woods has dealt with an extended list of injuries. Primarily, they've come in his back and lower body.
Here's a list of injuries Woods has dealt with during his professional golf career.
- December 2002: Left knee surgery to remove fluid
- April 2008: Arthroscopic knee surgery, two stress fractures in left leg
- June 2008: Left ACL surgery, torn Achilles
- May 2010: Inflamed facet joint in neck
- April-May 2011: MCL sprain and Achilles strain
- March 2012: Sore Achilles
- June 2013: Left elbow strain
- March-April 2014: Back spasms and surgery
- September-October 2015: Multiple back surgeries
- February-April 2017: Back spasms and surgery
- March 2019: Neck strain
- August 2019: Strained oblique, left knee surgery
- January 2021: Back surgery
- February 2021: Car accident resulting in right leg and ankle injuries
- April 2023: Ankle surgery
- September 2024: Back surgery
- March 2025: Left Achilles surgery
Will Tiger Woods retire?
At some point he will, but Woods hasn't indicated that this Achilles injury is considered career-ending. He said that surgery was successful and that he is expected to make a full recovery. Woods will likely have to see how his body responds to his recovery and treatment to see if he can get back to feeling in golf shape. If Woods tries to rush back too soon, there's a high risk of re-injury with Achilles issues.
Still, until we hear otherwise, the expectation is that Woods isn't quite done yet and will continue playing.
English (US)