Stephen A. Smith has described Tiger Woods as a ‘recreational golfer’ following news of his latest injury setback.
The 15-time major champion announced on Tuesday that he has undergone surgery after rupturing his left Achilles tendon while ramping up training at home.
Woods, 49, said in a statement that a doctor in West Palm Beach, Florida, performed a ‘minimally invasive’ Achilles tendon repair.
He now plans to focus on ‘recovery and rehab’ and a timeline for his return to competition is not immediately known.
Woods, though, will undoubtedly miss the Masters – the first of four majors in 2025 – which will be played April 10-13 at Augusta National Golf Club.
His latest injury, which follows six back surgeries in 10 years and a car accident in 2021, has led to fears that he will soon retire.
That is a sentiment Smith echoed this week, as he bemoaned the golf icon’s health issues.
“I mean no disrespect. To me, Tiger Woods is a recreational golfer at this point,” the broadcaster said during ESPN’s First Take.
“He’s the all-time greatest, we get that, but his health is so bad.
“He’s gone through so many physical tragedies. I look at golf and I look at Tiger Woods and I don’t even think about his game.
“You know what I think about? One day – is this all you got? You go through. You walk 18 holes. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, he ain’t making it. He’s not making it.
“You don’t even think about his swing. You don’t think about his short game, you don’t think about his mid game. You don’t think about him driving off the tee.
“All you think about is, he can’t make it to four days walking before you even think about him swinging.
“Walking the 18-hole course is not something he can do anymore. And that has been the case for years.
“That’s all I mean when I say he’s recreational because he can’t do it anymore. It’s just that simple.”
Smith’s comments, unsurprisingly, did not go down well with some fans.
“If you think this won’t motivate Woods you are wrong,” one person said, jumping in to defender the golfer.
“Who listens to this clown? Tiger Woods doesn’t need Stephen A. Smith to tell him when to step down. He has earned the right to call it quits whenever he wants to,” another wrote.
“Coldest take ever,” a third concluded.
Woods has not played at Tour-level since The Open last summer, with back surgery accounting for much of his lay-off.
He then withdrew from the Genesis Invitational last month following the death of his mother.
There was speculation that he had been lining up a return at the Players Championship in Florida this week, but Woods missed last Friday’s cut off to confirm his entry, before announcing news of his surgery.
Despite not featuring on the PGA Tour in 2025, he has competed in four TGL matches this season.
