Rory McIlroy believes Tiger Woods is unlikely to return to competitive golf until 2026 following yet another injury setback.
Woods, a 15-time major champion, has not played on the PGA Tour this season.
On Tuesday, he confirmed he had undergone surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon while preparing for a potential comeback at April’s Masters.
Reacting to the news ahead of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, McIlroy expressed his disappointment to RTE.
“It sucks,” he admitted. “He doesn’t have much luck when it comes to injuries and his body.
“Obviously, he was trying to ramp up to get ready for Augusta, and Achilles surgeries obviously aren’t fun. Hoping he’s in good spirits and hoping he’s doing okay.
“We obviously won’t see him play golf this year, and hopefully we see him maybe play in 2026.”
When asked whether Woods could still be competitive upon his return, McIlroy was hesitant to speculate.
“He’ll try. I know he’ll try,” he said. “But that’s a question for him, not for me. I obviously don’t know what’s in his head. But judging by prior behaviour, he’ll definitely try.”
McIlroy’s estimate aligns with the prognosis of consultant chartered physiotherapist Sammy Margo, who detailed the recovery process for a ruptured Achilles.
“The immediate post-surgery phase is up to two weeks, when you’re not mobilising and you’re not weight-bearing,” Margo explained.
“Then the early rehab is about two to six weeks when you’re gradually taking some load, and then you move up to a bit more weight-bearing in a protective boot from about six to 12 weeks and then you start to move on from about three to six months.
“Typically, for a professional athlete like Tiger Woods, the recovery timeline would be four to six months basic recovery, six to nine months for a return to professional competition, and probably around about 12 months for full recovery and optimal performance.
“I’m not a betting woman, but it’s likely he’s not going to return to competitive golf until 2026. This isn’t a minor sprain, this is a serious breakage.”
Woods has defied expectations before, making remarkable comebacks from multiple injuries, including returning to competition after nearly losing a leg in a car accident four years ago.
However, his ability to sustain a regular playing schedule has been severely impacted in recent years. He managed to complete all 72 holes in just one of the five official events he entered in 2024.
Margo acknowledged Woods’ commitment to his recovery but stressed that biology has its limits.
“He’s obviously going to dedicate himself to his recovery, and I’m sure he’s doing all that he can do,” she said. “You can optimise the conditions for healing, but you cannot defy nature.
“There are natural timeframes for recovery at a given age, even if you are a professional athlete.
“The rate of healing at the age of 49 is substantially slower than at the age of 23.
“You have to also consider that Tiger has had a fair amount of other injuries on the lead-up to this, so no matter how good you are, nature does take its course.”
