As Tiger Woods’ Masters speculation ramps up, surgeon weighs in on golf legend’s chances

Hypothesis over whether or not Tiger Woods would play on the Masters subsequent week in Augusta, Georgia, ramped up when his airplane was noticed at a neighborhood airport and he reportedly took half in an 18-hole follow spherical.

Whereas Woods has been seen on the golf course a number of instances — even participating on the PNC Championship in December — he has but to compete in an occasion this 12 months and has stated he wouldn’t compete on the PGA Tour full time as he as soon as did.

Woods has had again points over the past decade and broke a leg in a February 2021 automotive crash in Los Angeles. Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Rahul Shah instructed Fox Information Digital in a current interview Woods’ damage historical past is “positively eye-opening” however every damage and restoration course of is totally different.

“The reality is it’s important to take every damage one step at a time. For those who form of chronicle his accidents, you begin with a number of bumps and bruises rising up after which he had the numerous torquing damage to his again the place he blew out one among his discs,” stated Shah, who makes a speciality of advanced backbone circumstances and minimally invasive surgical procedures.

“That gave him an issue, and he needed to shave that down. Then it occurred once more, so that they did one other shave down. Nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient, so then they needed to do a surgical procedure to principally get the entire space the place that disc wasn’t working nicely to principally have it fused collectively.

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“He recovers from that and all of those, after all, are salvages to try to get him on his wing. What this actually speaks to is the quantity of prior runway he had, the quantity of means he had as a result of all of those (accidents) are principally whittling away at his talent.

Match host Tiger Woods speaks after The Genesis Invitational Feb. 20, 2022, at Riviera Nation Membership in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
(Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)

“Then he will get into this unlucky (automotive) accident and what I can inform from what was leaked to the media, it appeared prefer it was going to be some time earlier than he got here again, and he’s made a big restoration even quicker than anticipated.”

Shah stated it’s clear Woods is again within the mindset of being centered on his restoration and getting again on the course. He stated enjoying in smaller competitions might assist him ramp up for the larger tournaments.

“Moreover, he’s made some vital progress as regards to enjoying small video games,” Shah stated. “There’s nothing like making progress in smaller arenas simply to be sure you’re going to have the ability to make progress in greater arenas. He lately had that father-son golf recreation, and he did nicely. 

“I feel that, total, issues are going to be tougher, however he clearly has the talent set and wherewithal and the psychological reminiscence (and) the muscle reminiscence that he’s cultivated to have the ability to no less than give him the power to make progress in a few of these tournaments which can be arising.”

Woods’ final PGA Tour match was the Masters in November 2020, which was pushed again as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. He hasn’t performed a PGA Tour competitors since. And whereas there’s all the time a danger of damage, it’s the little steps he’s made in getting again right into a rhythm that may assist him.

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“I feel his probability for damage is increased. Is it catastrophic? The reply is not any,” Shah stated. “And the reason being as a result of he’s principally gone by way of some smaller venues and has made progress and has been in a position to maintain up. That tells you he has the stamina and talent to make progress.

“The true query is will he have the ability to hit the ball in the best way he was in a position to prior to have the ability to get to the place must be. And I feel that might not be the right comparability or place to begin. I feel what we have to do is see how he makes progress and use his present video games as his new baseline.”

Tiger Woods smiles on the twelfth gap throughout the ultimate spherical of the PNC Championship on the Ritz Carlton Golf Membership Grande Lakes Dec. 19, 2021, in Orlando, Fla.
(Sam Greenwood/Getty Pictures)

Shah, a former workforce physician for the Orlando Magic and accomplice with Premier Orthopaedic Associates in New Jersey, expressed optimism Woods would have the ability to play the total 4 rounds.

“I feel there’s a big risk that he’ll, notably as a result of he’s been coaching for it. We don’t see the coaching that he’s achieved behind the scenes. So, I do suppose that there’s a actually cheap likelihood,” Shah stated. “I might put it higher than say 80% he could make all 4 days.”

The primary spherical of the Masters begins April 7 and runs by way of April 10. Hideki Matsuyama is the reigning champion. He beat Will Zalatoris by one stroke in 2021.