Tiger Woods’ pre-recorded video message ahead of The Masters has left fans worried after the golf legend missed Tuesday’s Champions Dinner.
The 15-time major winner, 49, is notably absent from Augusta National this year following the news he had suffered a ruptured Achilles. This injury adds to a difficult year for the Woods family, with Tiger’s mother, Kultida, passing away at the age of 80 in February.
While Woods focuses on his recovery away from the public eye, he misses not only competing in one of golf’s most prestigious events but also participating in the rich traditions and ceremonies associated with The Masters.
His presence was also missed during a press conference on Tuesday when Augusta National revealed a collaboration with Woods to develop a new nine-hole course and a TGR Learning Lab for children at Augusta Municipal Golf Course.
Although Woods expressed his enthusiasm for the project in a pre-recorded video shown to the media, fans expressed their worries about his wellbeing, pointing out that his face seemed swollen.
Comments from concerned fans included: “Absolutely terrible look, Tiger. Sad to see.” While another said: “He’s hurting, and it hurts to see that.”
However, others pointed out Woods’ recent personal and injury struggles. One said: “Dude lost his mom, his only living parent. He just had the most devastating injury in all of sports and is trying his best. I bet we’d all look a lot worse.”
A second pleaded: “Give it a rest. He had Achilles surgery a few weeks ago. He probably isn’t even walking yet.” And a third urged: “Leave him be, man, why you judging his appearance?”
Woods’ absence from the tournament was a topic of discussion at the conclusion of the Champions Dinner, which was hosted by Scottie Scheffler after his 2024 triumph.
Golf legend Charles Coody, who won The Masters in 1971, told Golfweek: “We were putting our jackets away and the guys said that Tiger still can’t put weight on his foot.
“They said his weight tolerance just isn’t there to climb up those stairs.” This marks another year without Woods at the Masters since his triumphant fifth green jacket in 2019.
In 2021, he was sidelined by injuries from a severe car accident. Woods withdrew from the event in 2023 after making the cut due to a foot injury.
Last year, despite his physical struggles, he impressively made the cut. The Masters got underway on Thursday morning, with defending champion Scheffler aiming for his third green jacket.
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