Why is Tiger Woods not playing at The Masters? Latest on five-time champion as Augusta showpiece starts
Tiger Woods will miss The Masters as the golf icon’s painful injury woes continue. Woods ruptured his Achilles in mid-March, in a new blow that could end up seeing him miss the entire major season. Woods hasn’t played at a PGA tournament in 2025Getty The 49-year-old was preparing to feature in The Masters, which begins on Thursday, before looking to tee it up in the PGA Championship, US Open and The Open. However, his chances of playing in those events are now very slim. Here’s the latest on the five-time champion ahead of the Augusta showpiece… Why is Tiger Woods not playing at The Masters? Woods’ injury will keep him out of The Masters. On March 11, he posted on social media to reveal that he had suffered a ruptured Achilles and that he would now be focusing on recovery and rehabilitation. His post read: “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 repair for a ruptured tendon. “I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab, thank you for all the support.” Typically, this is an injury that requires a minimum of four to six months’ recovery. If Woods goes through that full recovery process, then he won’t be back fit to play golf until September at the earliest. Woods struggled in his last Masters appearanceGetty He won his fifth green jacket in 2019Getty It means that he won’t be playing in the Masters and that is a big blow for Woods, who was set to return from an extended break. He withdrew from the Genesis Open in February before not entering The Players’ field following the death of his mother and he hasn’t yet played a tournament in 2025. Before the sad news, Woods had also only recently returned from a sixth back operation as he continues to battle the effects of his near-fatal car crash in 2021. Since that accident, he has prioritised playing the majors, competing in eight of the last 12. However, he missed the cut at last year’s Open, US Open and PGA Championship. The five-time champion at Augusta did manage to push through to play the full Masters last April, albeit finishing in 60th and 16-over-par. Woods broke the internet on April Fool’s Day, joking that he was, in fact, fit and ready to play at Augusta. Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: “I can’t believe I am saying this, but a few weeks after rupturing my left Achilles, the sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber plus the explosive lifts my doctors and trainers have me ready to play the Masters next week! Can’t wait! See y’all on the course.” But Woods quickly came clean, adding: “P.S. April Fools my Achilles is still a mess :).” And so, the legend won’t be in the field as World No.1 Scottie Scheffler goes for a third green jacket as he defends his title in Georgia. The chasing pack will include the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele and Bryson Dechambeau. talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage of all the action from Georgia. To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM. Read more on The Masters All you need to know about 2025 Masters including talkSPORT coverage Masters tee times, groupings and schedule confirmed at Augusta Iconic green ‘completely destroyed’ as drama awaits at Masters’ toughest hole – hole-by-hole guide to Augusta National Exclusive: ‘Augusta is a mind game’ – Nick Faldo picks his 2025 Masters favourite and ‘puts tenner’ on 75-to-1 dark horse winner Exclusive: ‘Stars have aligned’ for generational talent Rory McIlroy to break Masters duck and complete career Grand Slam Exclusive: Lee Westwood names two LIV Golf players who can shock everyone at the Masters Rory McIlroy was summoned by Augusta National officials to discuss rule violation and possible Masters disqualification Nico Echavarria immediately hit with Masters curse in tournament no golfer wants to win Check out talkSPORT BET for the latest odds and bet boosts – welcome offer – Get £20 in free bets* Get 50/1 Rory McIlroy to make at least one birdie on Thursday or 50/1 Rory to make the cut To watch the Masters 2025, sign up to a Sky Sports subscription or read our guide to the best sky sports deals available now (if you click this link and make a purchase we will earn affiliate revenue)
Tiger Woods will miss The Masters as the golf icon’s painful injury woes continue.
Woods ruptured his Achilles in mid-March, in a new blow that could end up seeing him miss the entire major season.
The 49-year-old was preparing to feature in The Masters, which begins on Thursday, before looking to tee it up in the PGA Championship, US Open and The Open.
However, his chances of playing in those events are now very slim.
Here’s the latest on the five-time champion ahead of the Augusta showpiece…
Why is Tiger Woods not playing at The Masters?
Woods’ injury will keep him out of The Masters.
On March 11, he posted on social media to reveal that he had suffered a ruptured Achilles and that he would now be focusing on recovery and rehabilitation.
His post read: “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 repair for a ruptured tendon.
“I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab, thank you for all the support.”
Typically, this is an injury that requires a minimum of four to six months’ recovery.
If Woods goes through that full recovery process, then he won’t be back fit to play golf until September at the earliest.
It means that he won’t be playing in the Masters and that is a big blow for Woods, who was set to return from an extended break.
He withdrew from the Genesis Open in February before not entering The Players’ field following the death of his mother and he hasn’t yet played a tournament in 2025.
Before the sad news, Woods had also only recently returned from a sixth back operation as he continues to battle the effects of his near-fatal car crash in 2021.
Since that accident, he has prioritised playing the majors, competing in eight of the last 12.
However, he missed the cut at last year’s Open, US Open and PGA Championship.
The five-time champion at Augusta did manage to push through to play the full Masters last April, albeit finishing in 60th and 16-over-par.
Woods broke the internet on April Fool’s Day, joking that he was, in fact, fit and ready to play at Augusta.
Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: “I can’t believe I am saying this, but a few weeks after rupturing my left Achilles, the sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber plus the explosive lifts my doctors and trainers have me ready to play the Masters next week! Can’t wait! See y’all on the course.”
But Woods quickly came clean, adding: “P.S. April Fools my Achilles is still a mess :).”
And so, the legend won’t be in the field as World No.1 Scottie Scheffler goes for a third green jacket as he defends his title in Georgia.
The chasing pack will include the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele and Bryson Dechambeau.
talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage of all the action from Georgia.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Read more on The Masters
All you need to know about 2025 Masters including talkSPORT coverage
Masters tee times, groupings and schedule confirmed at Augusta
Iconic green ‘completely destroyed’ as drama awaits at Masters’ toughest hole – hole-by-hole guide to Augusta National
Exclusive: ‘Augusta is a mind game’ – Nick Faldo picks his 2025 Masters favourite and ‘puts tenner’ on 75-to-1 dark horse winner
Exclusive: ‘Stars have aligned’ for generational talent Rory McIlroy to break Masters duck and complete career Grand Slam
Exclusive: Lee Westwood names two LIV Golf players who can shock everyone at the Masters
Rory McIlroy was summoned by Augusta National officials to discuss rule violation and possible Masters disqualification
Nico Echavarria immediately hit with Masters curse in tournament no golfer wants to win
Check out talkSPORT BET for the latest odds and bet boosts – welcome offer – Get £20 in free bets*
Get 50/1 Rory McIlroy to make at least one birdie on Thursday or 50/1 Rory to make the cut
To watch the Masters 2025, sign up to a Sky Sports subscription or read our guide to the best sky sports deals available now (if you click this link and make a purchase we will earn affiliate revenue)
