Tiger Woods has been officially ruled out of the PGA Championship, the second major of the year, after the 15-time major champion was not included in the field. The PGA of America has confirmed the entry list for next week’s event at Oak Hill Country Club, with Woods a notable absentee as he continues to recover from injury.
Golfing fans around the world are not so surprised over the news as there have been speculations that Woods could miss the event. This is especially after his mid-round withdrawal from The Masters ahead of undergoing “successful” ankle surgery later that month.
Woods announced last month that he had a “subtalar fusion procedure to address his post-traumatic arthritis from his previous talus fracture.” The veteran golfer is still suffering from injuries sustained in the career-threatening car crash in February 2021.
This will be the third time in seven years that Woods has sat out of the PGA Championship, a tournament he has won four times. His absence will be felt, not just by the fans, but also by the golfing community, who had hoped to see the legend back in action.
Woods’ last major win came at the 2019 Masters, where he completed a historic comeback after undergoing multiple back surgeries. Since then, his career has been hampered by injury and a loss of form. Woods’ injuries have also forced him to withdraw from other tournaments, including the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship.
His absence from the PGA Championship is a blow to the tournament’s organizers, who had hoped to capitalize on the increased interest in golf following the Masters. The tournament, which will feature many of the world’s top golfers, including defending champion Justin Thomas, is set to be one of the most highly-anticipated events of the year. However, without Woods, it may not have the same level of excitement or media attention.
The four-time PGA Championship winner’s injury troubles have led many to speculate about his future in golf. While some have suggested that he may never play again, Woods has remained positive, saying that he is focused on his recovery and is looking forward to getting back on the course. “I look forward to beginning training and am focused on getting back out on tour,” he said in a statement last month.
Despite his absence, the PGA Championship is still expected to be a thrilling event. In addition to Justin Thomas, who won the tournament last year, there will be a host of other top golfers competing, including Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Collin Morikawa. The tournament will also be an important opportunity for players to earn valuable ranking points ahead of the US Open, which begins in June.
Leon Osamor
