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Report: Tiger Woods’ back injury has worsened, “painful to sit”

Published

10 years ago

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Update: 2/22/16 5:00 PM ET. ESPN’s Bob Harig obtained this statement from Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg.

“The tweets that appeared this weekend about Tiger’s health are ridiculous and absolutely false. It’s reprehensible that every few months someone makes something up and it’s treated like a real story. Tiger continues to work on his rehabilitation and we will have an
accurate update at the appropriate time.”

—

Aside from a revealing interview with Lorne Rubenstein for Time, we haven’t heard much from Tiger Woods recently. Woods did speak at a press conference at his Hero World Challenge in December and offered a bleak assessment of his condition as he recovers from an October back surgery (which was a follow-up to a mid-September procedure). And of course the golfer had an initial microdiscectomy in April of 2014, which kept him out of action until late June.

But now, in late February, an update of sorts. This just in from Robert Lusetich, author of “Unplayable: An Inside Account of Tiger’s Most Tumultuous Season.”

Lusetich’s tweet comes on the heels of Secret Tour Pro reporting that sources told him Woods had hoped to be back for The Players Championship in May. STP confirmed that the former world No. 1 is yet to return to hitting balls.

Further, STP added.

secret tour pro---So, the takeaway in all this: While we are presented with new information, the bottom line remains the same. We don’t know when we’ll see Tiger Woods on a golf course again.

ESPN’s Bob Harig spoke with Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg late last week. Harig wrote:

Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, said Friday that he had no update to offer on Woods’ recovery and rehabilitation schedule, much less any potential tournament starts. He
referred to a similar conversation when asked the same question a few weeks ago.

“There is no timetable for this and that’s been the hardest mindset adjustment is that I don’t know,” Woods said on Dec. 1. “So where is the light at the end of the tunnel?
I don’t know, so that’s been hard.”

Woods hasn’t teed it up since the Wyndham Championship in August. The 14-time major winner is coming off his worst season as a professional, one in which he missed the cut in three of the four major championships and made just 10 starts.

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Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

45 Comments

45 Comments

  1. prime21

    Feb 26, 2016 at 6:22 pm

    I can’t wait until he wins the 2017 Masters!

    Reply Report comment

  2. Mike

    Feb 24, 2016 at 9:25 pm

    I think most have seen Tigers Video on Twitter & instagram, He’s not cripple or dead Lets close this thread it’s pointless regardless if he ever plays golf again.

    Reply Report comment

    • Dr Troy

      Feb 24, 2016 at 9:40 am

      Thanks Joe…I was just about to post this….Once again, you only can believe so much you read on the web….

      Reply Report comment

  4. Mark

    Feb 24, 2016 at 9:03 am

    Look at his Facebook post today. Looks like he is hitting balls to me. People are morons

    Reply Report comment

    • Perez H

      Feb 24, 2016 at 11:47 am

      The only morons are those who use Social Media and those who pay attention to it

      Reply Report comment

      • prime21

        Feb 26, 2016 at 6:09 pm

        Are we not considering this social media? Did you not post? Good one Perez!

        Reply Report comment

  5. Johny Thunder

    Feb 24, 2016 at 4:36 am

    I was a big Tiger fan before he was caught betraying his wife and family. That was the end of my interest in watching him. That said, as a sufferer of chronic back pain myself, I know that it is absolutely no joke, and anyone who makes light of it hasn’t experienced anything similar. It is truly debilitating and depressing, and I don’t wish it on Tiger. I’m not sure he can ever get back anywhere near where he wants to be in golf, and given the potential for even worse damage, I’m not sure he should even try. It may not be worth it, if it costs him the ability to walk… I agree with those who suggest that his back issues likely have two causes – seems quite likely golf alone is not to blame – though he and his coaches can be blamed for not changing the vicious squat and lash that his swing was for so long. Plenty of tour players get enough distance without the kind of punishment he was inflicting on himself.

    And, yeah, the PGA Tour will be just fine without him. If the purses drop back to half what they are, the best players will still make more money than they could spend in 10 lifetimes anyway. The sooner the broadcasters and writers finally lose interest, the sooner they’ll pay more attention to the phenomenal talents who are playing *now*, and follow the great careers and storylines still to be written. Neither Bobby Jones, nor Jack Nicklaus, nor Tiger Woods were golf.

    Reply Report comment

  6. ooffa

    Feb 23, 2016 at 9:28 am

    I don’t believe it was the golf that hurt his back I think it was all dat model bangin he did. Tiger is a lucky man. Banged himself right offa da tour.

    Reply Report comment

  7. Loohooser

    Feb 23, 2016 at 1:53 am

    He’s becoming the Paris Hilton of Golf. Needs attention all the time, regardless of whether it’s good or bad, using his agent to drum up some noise for him so that he’s always somewhere in the news and not forgotten and cast aside. What a loser

    Reply Report comment

    • MarkB A

      Feb 23, 2016 at 9:47 am

      Once a player stops winning people pretty much move on except a few fan boy types. A few that remained as a salable brand are Jack, Arnold and Michael Jordan. The Shark, Gary Player and Faldo to a lesser degree. If Peyton Manning retires then his brand will fade quickly. Too many negative rumors about him. Tiger is a fading brand.

      Reply Report comment

      • Fahgdat

        Feb 23, 2016 at 12:16 pm

        Whoa. Manning is not a “brand” in the way that these other guys are. Please. Lets not bring the idiots from the NFL into this. They don’t sell equipment with their name “branded” on them.

        Reply Report comment

        • MarkB A

          Feb 23, 2016 at 2:42 pm

          Peyton Manning is on TV selling everything. I think his number is up soon. Tiger just needs to gut it out. Jack played for over a decade with a bad hip and was a winner. Tiger should try Motrin or Extra Strength Tylenol.

          Reply Report comment

          • Fahgdat

            Feb 24, 2016 at 12:44 pm

            I knew I was talking to a numbnuts eejit.
            Manning is not a brand in the way of Nicklaus, Palmer, Woods, Player, Norman etc in golf. Manning doesn’t have items with his name with his designs on equipment, shoes helmets, gloves etc that he sells into the NFL sport like these other guys do with their clubs, putters, clothing, and golf course design! Manning might be adverting things on TV as that’s about all that NFL’s concussed can do as they can’t think outside of their helmets.

            Reply Report comment

      • prime21

        Feb 26, 2016 at 6:19 pm

        What are you basing your commentary on? Ask Nike how much he is fading based on sales of TW product. Then check the television ratings and compare every non-Tiger event with the last event Tiger was in. Bet the last event Tiger was in had a higher rating. Greg Norman and Nick Faldo are brands that still exist and Tiger’s is fading? Dime…clue….buy it!

        Reply Report comment

    • prime21

      Feb 26, 2016 at 6:14 pm

      What? Multiple articles were posted saying he couldn’t walk and his agent denied it. To prove it, Tiger posted a swing. The man probably wishes he was forgotten so he could be a normal human again. To say that he is searching for attention and has been cast aside is a bit of a reach, don’t you think? Sorry, based on the logic in your posting, you don’t do much thinking. Carry on Loohooser, I’m sure there is some more trolling to be done.

      Reply Report comment

  8. cocheese

    Feb 22, 2016 at 3:41 pm

    If this story is even remotely true, I hope he heals and can enjoy a pain-free life…golf or no golf. If you don’t live with chronic (and I mean TRULY chronic) back pain, then you cannot truly understand what he or anyone else with this type of condition has to deal with.

    Reply Report comment

  9. Shallowface

    Feb 22, 2016 at 3:07 pm

    If Tiger were more forthcoming about his condition, there wouldn’t be any need for all of the speculation and reports that may or may not be true.

    Why anyone would want to invite all of that is beyond me. Tiger should realize that a lot of people care about him and he should let everyone know exactly what is going on.

    No, it’s none of our business. But what harm is there in being forthcoming? It’s not like he’s a UFC fighter who doesn’t want to let an upcoming opponent know about an injury.

    The question remains. Why invite speculation?

    Reply Report comment

    • digitalbroccoli

      Feb 22, 2016 at 3:55 pm

      He doesn’t owe anyone an update on his health. You’re not his doctor, or his family, stop acting like you have the right to someone’s medical information. I simply cannot understand this line of thinking. He’s not “inviting speculation”, he’s just living his life. Sheesh.

      Reply Report comment

      • Jam

        Feb 22, 2016 at 5:28 pm

        He knows that Tiger doesn’t owe anyone an update on his health. He said “it’s none of our business”, and he’s right, however it’s 100% factual that there would be less speculation if Tiger was forthcoming about his health. That’s all that was said. Calm down broccoli.

        Reply Report comment

        • Shallowface

          Feb 23, 2016 at 3:27 pm

          Thanks, Jam. Didn’t mean to make broccoli lose his florets.

          Reply Report comment

          • Chuck

            Feb 23, 2016 at 4:54 pm

            Totally agree, Shallowface; your post was spot-on. Jack Nicklaus never played these games with the press. And neither did Ben Hogan, who experienced a physical injury crisis of an entirely higher magnitude.

            Reply Report comment

  10. Rob

    Feb 22, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    The only thing that is sad is the state of “journalism”. Keep repeating the same information from less than reliable sources over and over until it is accepted as fact.

    Reply Report comment

  11. Rich Hunt

    Feb 22, 2016 at 3:02 pm

    I don’t think Secret Tour Pro has much in the way of credibility. He had claimed that Tiger quit Chris Como and when that was proven wrong, he made up some conspiracy theories that were also wrong.

    RH

    Reply Report comment

    • Steve

      Feb 22, 2016 at 6:20 pm

      I beleive the Secret Tour Pro changes, its not always the same guy

      Reply Report comment

  12. steve

    Feb 22, 2016 at 2:08 pm

    Maybe he should just give up golf and just live a somewhat healthy life.

    Reply Report comment

  13. Joe

    Feb 22, 2016 at 1:59 pm

    According to Bob Harig, not true:

    BobHarig: Tiger’s agent is denying the various reports that suggest he’s had a setback. Called it “ridiculous’ and “absolutlely false.”

    Reply Report comment

  14. Forsbrand

    Feb 22, 2016 at 1:49 pm

    Tiger if you are reading this or if anyone else knows how to contact Steinberg or. Tiger tel them to go and see Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt

    Unconventional medicine but worked for JM Olazabal and certain other north athletes

    Reply Report comment

    • MarkB A

      Feb 22, 2016 at 6:59 pm

      Muller-Wohlfahrt was fired from Bayern Muchen because many players injuries.

      Tiger just needs to man up and due some conditioning exercises.

      Reply Report comment

      • knall

        Feb 23, 2016 at 10:07 am

        Quiet the opposite is true. Guardiola wanted to push the players harder and let them play sooner after injuries. Müller-Wohlfahrt didnt agree with that and wanted the players to take longer recovery breaks after injuries to prevent longterm problems.
        Now that Guardiaola leaves after the season Müller-Wohlfahrt will probably come back.

        Reply Report comment

        • MarkB A

          Feb 23, 2016 at 3:06 pm

          I never liked Pep or Van Gaal. Bayern Muchen treated Luca Toni terribly along with many Germans. He was a great striker and a nice guy. Also good friend of Ribery.

          Reply Report comment

    • Joshuaplaysgolf

      Feb 22, 2016 at 8:27 pm

      I REALLY hope you are serious with this comment…Tiger reading the comments section of a GolfWRX article that appears to be at least somewhat speculative about himself. ROFL. That’s too good.

      Reply Report comment

  15. Michawl

    Feb 22, 2016 at 1:33 pm

    Tiger has an apartment in Albany? Huh?

    Reply Report comment

    • steve

      Feb 22, 2016 at 2:01 pm

      Not Albany, NY it is Albany, Bahamas it is a community there

      Reply Report comment

  16. Ben

    Feb 22, 2016 at 1:31 pm

    Bye Felicia!

    Reply Report comment

  17. Philip

    Feb 22, 2016 at 1:16 pm

    If this latest information is anyway close to accurate, Tiger needs to seriously consider moving on from Golf and hope to one day be able to interact in life. Even if in two years he is able to walk and play casual rounds – the thought of professional golf should be distant in his mind, as I just do not see him being able to tone it down and not be as aggressive as he has always been on the course. It’s in his nature. I mean, even a wheelchair is not a current option to move around. To be able to do nothing but lie down 22-23 hours a day … I actually hope the information is exaggerated.

    Reply Report comment

  18. Big Dee

    Feb 22, 2016 at 1:07 pm

    Don’t be so stupid Brandon, there was a PGA tour before Tiger and there will be one after Tiger…

    Reply Report comment

  19. Brody

    Feb 22, 2016 at 1:06 pm

    Wow.. saddening. While the TOUR does have a great bunch of young guys who are ready to carry the torch, it really isn’t the same without Tiger. I really hope he gets better

    Reply Report comment

  20. Brandon

    Feb 22, 2016 at 12:59 pm

    Big thanks to the surgeon who ruined Tiger’s back! Thanks for taking him away from us. Might as well shut down the PGA Tour.

    Reply Report comment

    • BD57

      Feb 22, 2016 at 1:35 pm

      No need to be so melodramatic.

      As I understand it, what’s been done to date has been two microdiscectomies, where pressure is taken off the nerve by trimming the offending disc.

      One of the issues with that surgery is the disc isn’t bone – you might get relief from the trim, but then the disc suffers further damage, deforms some more & bam!!!! You have pressure on the nerve again.

      There are other surgeries – fusion being one example, artificial discs another (though I have no idea how an artificial disc would work for someone who places as much stress on the back as Tiger).

      The issue for Tiger isn’t “can’t recover,” it’s “time lost until recovered.”

      While it’s a WAG, I suspect there is something that can be done which will guarantee Tiger a “fix,” but they went with the less invasive, less extensive, more conservative approach, hoping it would work out.

      I had a S4/S5 issue in 2001. My surgeon asked the night before the surgery “What approach do you want me to take?” re fusion v. trim (microdiscectomy). I told him I feared taking half-measures, getting it trimmed and winding up back in the hospital in a year because, here we are again . . . . basically told him unless it’s obvious that microdiscectomy is the right thing to do, do what we know will fix it (fusion).

      In my case, his decision was easy – the disc had exploded, the “jelly” was everywhere, no way to make a “trim job” work. Took a year for the bone to fuse (that’s down to six months tops now), and another year for me to get to where I felt OK (a world class athlete like Tiger would get that down to 6 months), but, eventually, it was fine. Haven’t had an issue with the back since.

      There are fixes available.

      Reply Report comment

      • JustTrying2BAwesome

        Feb 22, 2016 at 3:03 pm

        Thanks for the write up. Did you notice any long-term loss of flexibility or strength after the fusion? What caused the problem in the first place, if you don’t mind my asking?

        Reply Report comment

      • MarkB A

        Feb 22, 2016 at 7:02 pm

        Tiger seems to find some real hacks. I know many people who have back work done and they were back to normal. He always seems to make poor choices on certain things. Sad.

        Reply Report comment

  21. Desmond

    Feb 22, 2016 at 12:30 pm

    Tiger should have sought a second opinion – went to the same surgeon who did the initial operation. Sad.

    He needs to see someone else.

    Reply Report comment

  22. Mike

    Feb 22, 2016 at 12:24 pm

    Ugh this is really sad. I’m really hoping we see him win again.

    Reply Report comment

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