Tiger Woods' latest heartbreaking injury proves it's time to retire
Tiger Woods is probably never going to retire on his own terms.
Generationally great athletes like him rarely know when, let alone how, to walk away. When you've been at the mountaintop for so long, when you've trained yourself to turn every doubt into fuel, when you've won again and again against all odds, why wouldn't you think this can last forever?
Like Tom Brady, Michael Jordan and many GOATs before them, Tiger's brain was never going to accept that it was time to hang it up. Only his body could do that. This week, his body sent him the clearest signal yet: A ruptured Achilles tendon that ended his latest comeback bid before it could even begin.
Woods announced the injury, and subsequent surgery, on Tuesday — just as the world's best golfers were congregating for THE PLAYERS at TPC Sawgrass, where Tiger has won twice and created countless more memories for his fans.
Tiger Woods injury history: Recent ailments including a torn Achilles
Given what we know about his injury history and what it takes to come back from a torn Achilles, that's probably a wrap on the competitive career of Eldrick Woods.
As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured.This morning, Dr. Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida performed a minimally-invasive Achilles tendon… pic.twitter.com/KAVZfcRxlE
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) March 11, 2025
The last time we saw Woods in either a PGA Tour or major tournament was when he missed The Open cut at Royal Troon last July. He'll have turned 50 by the time the next PGA season starts. Only four golfers over that age remain on Tour, and that's assuming he's recovered enough to play next March. Even the otherwise healthiest individuals still need a full calendar year to come back from such a grueling rehab.
In Woods' case, this is seventh known surgery he's required in the last 10 years. September saw Woods undergo microdecompression surgery on the lumbar spine to relieve pain in his lower back. He was hoping to make it back in time for THE PLAYERS and even teed it up on Monday this week at the famed Seminole Pro-Member tournament with a few other Tour stalwarts.
That was after Woods admitted it'd been hard getting back into the game following the passing of his mother, Kultida.
"I haven't really gotten into it," Woods told reporters. "My heart is not really into practicing right now. I've had so many other things to do with the tour and trying to do other things."
Maybe he proves everyone wrong one last time. Maybe golf fans of a certain age need to hold onto that hope. But that's all it is at this point. Hope that one day we'll see Woods perform another miracle with a golf ball.
Between the injuries, the mental strain of losing someone so close to his heart and career and, of course, Woods' refusal to use a golf cart even with an exemption, everything is adding up the inevitable. Woods will still enjoy the spotlight because he's still Tiger Woods. He can still play in his TGL league. He can still help the PGA navigate the incredibly rough terrain amid a merger with LIV. He just can't hold up to the rigors of playing on the PGA Tour anymore.
It's time to hang it up, Tiger.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Tiger Woods' Achilles injury clearest sign it's time to retire
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NBC Sports
27 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
U.S. Open power rankings: Every player at Oakmont ranked Nos. 1-156
Treacherous, lightning-fast greens. Deep, juicy rough. A brilliant design. There's no doubt about it: Oakmont is going to be a beast. The best players in the world will take on the Henry C. Fownes masterpiece for this week's U.S. Open. It's the 10th time Oakmont has hosted this national championship – and the first time since 2016, when Dustin Johnson took advantage of Shane Lowry's Sunday misfortune to win his first of what is now two major titles. If there's ever a course to test every club in the bag, it's Oakmont, a par-70 layout that will tip out at 7,372 yards and features poa greens, bent and poa fairways and Kentucky bluegrass rough. 'The Fownes' were good players, and they were adamant to protect that golf course,' said Gil Hanse, who led the 2023 renovation of the course. "... It is unapologetically difficult, and that is what they wanted.' The most noticeable changes from 2016 will be larger greens with more hole locations and more penal edges, some additional fairway width in spots to encourage more options, rebuilt bunkers that could see more balls end up closer to lips, and even a bigger church-pew bunker between Nos. 3 and 4 (about 15 yards). And what about the trend from the 2021 U.S. Amateur, where players were driving it into adjacent fairways for better angles? About 5 inches of rough should deter most of that, along with added length on No. 11 and a later start to the 11th fairway, which will make it tough to avoid the rough if hitting it left off No. 10. Statistically, it's hard to go wrong with total strokes gained. But diving deeper into the metrics, look for players who hit fairways (length shouldn't be a prerequisite, though if you're long and straight, you'll do well anywhere), are strong approach players, scramble well and have good speed on the greens (approach putting). Guys also always have a ton of meaningful putts, usually for par or worse, between 4-8 feet at U.S. Opens. My model also uses a fair bit of gut feelings, too. Scottie Scheffler will be the pre-championship favorite for good reason, but what about everyone else? Let's rank them all: (Currently, the 156-player field is at 150 players with Matthew Jordan replacing the injured Sahith Theegala on Friday; the additions will be made Sunday evening, likely all from the alternate list.) Nos. 1-10 1. Scottie Scheffler: Has collected three trophies in his last four starts. Leads Tour in strokes gained off the tee, strokes gained approach, proximity and bogey avoidance. He's also third in rough proximity. 2. Jon Rahm: Starting to get his major groove back – T-14 at Masters, T-8 at PGA. Should be considered among the three or four best in the world off the tee, plus arguably one of the best short games as well. 3. Bryson DeChambeau: Even with frustrating iron play of late, he's managed some great results, including a T-5 at the Masters and co-runner-up at the PGA. I could see some dialed-back version of the bomb-and-gauge style that he employed at Winged Foot working at Oakmont. 4. Keegan Bradley: Hear me out on this one! He's essentially top 20 in several important metrics, including 17th in total driving, 12th in strokes gained approach and fourth in approach putt performance. And he's riding back-to-back top-10s. 5. Si Woo Kim: Another name that popped insanely high on my model. Great at finding fairways and an elite short game. Plus, he was recently T-8 at the PGA. 6. Collin Morikawa: Second on Tour in driving accuracy with a top-10 approach game. He's built to win this championship. I just wish he had some better finishes coming into this week. 7. Sepp Straka: Another great fit for Oakmont as he's top 3 in strokes gained approach and proximity, and top 6 in rough avoidance off the tee and bogey avoidance. The MC at Quail was an anomaly, as he sandwiched that with a win at Truist and solo third at Memorial. 8. Corey Conners: He's cracked the top 25 in 10 of his last 19 major starts. Nothing better than T-6, but with his ball-striking and his surprisingly decent speed on the greens, Conners could challenge that this week. 9. Joaquin Niemann: Also T-8 at Quail, his first-ever top-10 in a major championship. That could be just what the LIV star needs to kick the door down at Oakmont. 10. Jordan Spieth: He's just outside the top 70 in strokes gained approach, but he's basically top 30 in the other key areas. He's also No. 1 in approach putting and is coming off a top-10 at the Memorial. Jun 6, 2025; Caledon, Ontario, CAN; Shane Lowry reacts to his tee shot at the 3rd hole during the second round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Nos. 11-20 11. Shane Lowry: Ranks third in strokes gained approach and proximity, and he should be able to give himself lots of looks from the fairway. He'd be ranked higher on this list if he wasn't prone to the odd blow-up here and there. And remember his final-round 76 in 2016? 12. Daniel Berger: Top 15 in total driving and proximity. Would be top 10 on this list if not for back-to-back missed cuts. 13. Rory McIlroy: Somewhat controversial leaving Rory outside the top 10, but I'm just not feeling the attitude lately. Yes, he and Scottie are far and away the best drivers of the golf ball on Tour, but remember, this is a new driver in the bag, and McIlroy also isn't hitting it particularly close with the irons this year. I'd go with the other big names before McIlroy this week. (I wrote this before his missed cut by miles in Canada, so this may be validated now.) 14. Patrick Cantlay: Top 10 in strokes gained approach and approach putting, and he's nearly top 30 off the tee. This is his major, too, as he has four straight top-15s, including a T-3 last year at Pinehurst. 15. Xander Schauffele: He's had plenty of rounds to get the stats up, and we're still seeing him ranked outside the top 120 in strokes gained off the tee. Schauffele excels on these impossible setups, so we can't drop him too far. 16. Robert MacIntyre: Top 25 in strokes gained off the tee and approach, plus he's really reliable on those 4- to 8-footers that everyone will have for par. Also just hasn't played bad in a long time. 17. Justin Thomas: Top 10 in strokes gained approach and one of the best iron players out of the rough, too. Always like JT to embrace these classic setups – he was nearly top 30 here back in 2016. I'm just concerned about the driving – outside the top 90 in strokes gained off the tee – plus he's kind of cooled off in recent starts. 18. Bud Cauley: The first final qualifier on the list. Top 10 in total strokes gained this season with the ball-striking a huge reason for that. 19. Patrick Reed: Hard to measure strokes gained toughness, but Reed is one of the best in that category. Third at the Masters before missing the PGA cut, but he's made seven straight U.S. Open cuts with four top-20s during that streak. 20. Tommy Fleetwood: Sneakily ranks sixth in total strokes gained this year. And he's finished outside the top 25 just twice in his past 22 starts. That's insane. May 24, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Chris Gotterup walks from the ninth green during the third round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images Nos. 21-30 21. Russell Henley: He's really let us down in the majors with MCs at both this year. His lack of length shouldn't be as big a deal at Oakmont, and we love that his top 12 in driving accuracy and second in proximity. 22. Harris English: Has top-12s in three of his last four starts, including a T-2 at the PGA. Also has three top-10s in his last five U.S. Open appearances. 23. J.J. Spaun: We've rolled with him in each of the year's first two majors, and he's done OK. Top 20 in total driving and fifth in strokes gained approach has him high in the model, but he gets bumped down a little until he proves it more in majors. 24. Chris Gotterup: Another qualifier. Hits it forever but struggles to find fairways, so this is risky. But he's also top 10 in bogey avoidance and he's posted five top-20s in his last seven starts. 25. Ben Griffin: He's in elite form right now, just nothing statistically jumps out to say he'll contend in a U.S. Open, especially his debut. 26. Aaron Rai: No has hit more fairways or at a higher percentage. And though he's missed two straight cuts, he's been solid in the major this year – T-27 at Masters, T-19 at PGA. 27. Tyrrell Hatton: Scrambling and finding fairways have kept Hatton right around the top 25 in recent U.S. Opens. That's probably where he ends up again. 28. Taylor Pendrith: Pendy has been hot since his T-5 at Quail. He's fifth in total driving and nearly top 30 in strokes gained approach. 29. Tony Finau: Trending similarly to last year when he was T-3 at Pinehurst. He's turned around the iron play and his short game has been a real weapon, too. Plus, we know he can send it. 30. Brooks Koepka: Just waiting for Major Brooks to return. It's been a while – no top-20s since the 2023 U.S. Open. He's just not putting well. Jun 6, 2025; Caledon, Ontario, CAN; Ludvig Aberg hits his tee shot at the third hole during the second round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Nos. 31-40 31. Carlos Ortiz: A win and a couple other top-10s in his last four LIV starts. He's kind of like LIV Spieth with a worse short game. 32. Sungjae Im: Top 8 in both driving accuracy and strokes gained around the green. The big concern is he's missed three straight U.S. Open cuts. 33. Viktor Hovland: Top 10 in strokes gained approach and nearly top 30 in total driving should have him higher, but the short game and putting speed continue to hamper him. 34. Ludvig Aberg: Was T-12 in his U.S. Open debut last year, but he's still ranked outside the top 115 in strokes gained approach. Still, top 25 in total driving and top 15 in proximity, so a top-20 isn't a terrible bet. 35. Michael Kim: He's cooled bit, and it's been because of a combination of different things. But Top 20 in strokes gained around the green and bogey avoidance, and I've always thought his game set up well for these classic U.S. Open tests. 36. Gary Woodland: He's not been better than T-49 in his last eight major starts, but top 25 in total driving and proximity. The rough won't bother him. 37. Maverick McNealy: A good bet to lead the field in strokes gained putting this week. Just needs to hit more fairways and scramble better. 38. Hideki Matsuyama: Might be the lowest I've ever ranked Hideki. A couple top-6s in his last three U.S. Open starts, and though I love his short game, he's just not striking it well right now. 39. Sam Burns: Has four top-20s in his last five starts, and he's rolling his rock right now. Different grasses at Oakmont, sure, but Burns' T-9 last year at Pinehurst was promising. I just need to see it more. 40. Nick Taylor: He's missed nine of his last 10 major cuts. Gulp. But he's top 20 in a bunch of stats – driving accuracy, strokes gained approach, bogey avoidance. Get him on a course where distance isn't necessarily king, and I like him here. May 4, 2025; McKinney, Texas, USA; Erik van Rooyen prepares to play a shot from the sixth tee during the final round of the THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images Nos. 41-50 41. Min Woo Lee: He's simmered since winning in Houston. But there's a lot to like if he can hit fairways. Granted, that's a big if. 42. Ryan Gerard: Ranks 20th in total strokes gained – and that's with a putter that's been frustrating over recent months. T-8 at PGA should give him some major confidence, too. 43. Erik van Rooyen: Sixth in total driving, though he must hit his irons better than he did at Quail. Three straight MCs at the U.S. Open, but he was T-23 at Winged Foot in 2020. 44. Thorbjorn Olesen: Doing everything above average right now, which explains why he's 13th in total strokes gained. His play in Canada gives me extra confidence. I'd rank him higher if his major record was better. 45. Emiliano Grillo: The iron game has really flashed of late as he's posted four top-25s in his last six starts. Could another Argentine contend at Oakmont? 46. Brian Harman: Since his T-2 at the 2017 U.S. Open, he's not missed a cut at this championship. 47. Akshay Bhatia: Top 25 in strokes gained approach and proximity, though outside the top 125 in total driving. Some of that is distance related. Also, his short game has been uncharacteristically poor of late. But he was T-16 at Pinehurst last year, and if he figures it out, has the game to win one of these someday. 48. Cameron Smith: Not the same guy who posted five top-10s, including a win, in a nine-major span a few years ago. Has missed three straight major cuts as he just doesn't drive it well enough to contend. 49. Andrew Novak: Breakout year, and he's done most of his work on the better designed courses on the Tour rota. Good short game and speed on the greens. He'll make his first major cut this week. 50. Brian Campbell: He will rank last in the field in driving distance, but not many will find more fairways and display a better short game. May 14, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Matt McCarty pitches out of the bunker on the ninth hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at Quail Hollow. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Nos. 51-60 Adam Scott Victor Perez Lucas Glover Matt McCarty Davis Thompson J.T. Poston Sam Stevens Denny McCarthy Tom Hoge Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen Nos. 61-70 Marc Leishman Stephan Jaeger Nico Echavarria Jordan Smith Matt Wallace Matt Fitzpatrick Laurie Canter Cameron Young Jason Day Jackson Koivun (a) Nos. 71-80 Max Greyserman Johnny Keefer Mark Hubbard Jhonattan Vegas Thomas Detry Wyndham Clark Mackenzie Hughes Rasmus Hojgaard Davis Riley Niklas Norgaard Nos. 81-90 Justin Rose Tom Kim Christiaan Bezuidenhout Jacob Bridgeman Ben James (a) Frederic LaCroix Chris Kirk Lanto Griffin Jose Luis Ballester Matthew Jordan Nos. 91-100 Byeong Hun An Alvaro Ortiz Nick Dunlap Matthieu Pavon Justin Lower Cam Davis Joe Highsmith Sam Bairstow Richard Bland Trevor Cone Nos. 101-110 Jacques Kruyswijk Edoardo Molinari Will Chandler Dustin Johnson Zac Blair Maxwell Moldovan Ryan McCormick Kevin Velo Scott Vincent Trent Phillips Nos. 111-120 Guido Migliozzi James Nicholas Preston Summerhays Adam Schenk Andrea Pavan Phil Mickelson Michael La Sasso (a) Thriston Lawrence Jackson Buchanan Zach Bauchou Nos. 121-130 Bryan Lee (a) Jinichiro Kozuma Joakim Lagergren Justin Hastings (a) Lance Simpson (a) Evan Beck (a) Matt Vogt (a) Philip Barbaree Riley Lewis Tyler Weaver (a) Nos. 131-140 Frankie Harris (a) Brady Calkins Zachery Pollo (a) Cameron Tankersley (a) Emilio Gonzalez Harrison Ott Noah Kent (a) Roberto Diaz Austen Truslow Alistair Docherty Nos. 141-156 Yuta Sugiura Chandler Blanchet Mason Howell (a) James Hahn George Duangmanee Joey Herrera George Kneiser Justin Hicks Grant Haefner Trevor Gutschewski (a)
Newsweek
34 minutes ago
- Newsweek
How to Watch RBC Canadian Open Final Round: Live Stream PGA Tour Sunday Golf, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The PGA Tour's RBC Canadian Open is coming to a close, with the final round taking place on Sunday, as eight players all sit within two shots of each other at the top of the leaderboard. Matteo Manassero of Italy reacts on the 17th green during the third round of the RBC Canadian Open 2025 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley on June 07, 2025 in Caledon, Ontario. Matteo Manassero of Italy reacts on the 17th green during the third round of the RBC Canadian Open 2025 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley on June 07, 2025 in Caledon, to Watch RBC Canadian Open - Final Round Date: Sunday, June 8, 2025 Time: 7:45 AM ET (Early Rounds), 1:00 PM ET (Main Coverage) TV Channel: The Golf Channel Live Stream: FuboTV (TRY FOR FREE), ESPN+ (WATCH NOW) Matteo Manassero and Ryan Fox sit tied at the top of the leaderboard, but a staggering thirteen players all sit within three strokes of them. It is really anyone to win heading into the last day. The score to beat right now is -14, but players have been shooting ridiculous scores all week, making no lead safe down the stretch. Manassero and Fox both carded scores of 64 on Saturday, and Lee Hodges and Kevin Yu, who are tied for third, both shot an impressive 63 in the third round. By the time it is all said and done on Sunday, -20 might end up being what it takes to take home the top prize. Rory McIlroy, unfortunately, failed to make the cut after shooting +9 in his first two rounds, and defending champion Robert MacIntyre also appears to be out of it, currently sitting at -4. This is a great PGA Tour event that you will not want to miss; be sure to tune in to catch all the action. The early morning coverage can be viewed on ESPN+, while the nationally broadcast coverage begins later in the day on The Golf Channel, which can be viewed with FuboTV. Live stream the RBC Canadian Open for free with Fubo: Start your subscription now! Live stream the RBC Canadian Open with ESPN+: Start your subscription now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
RBC Canadian Open 2025 purse, payout: Prize money breakdown for PGA Tour event
RBC Canadian Open 2025 purse, payout: Prize money breakdown for PGA Tour event Show Caption Hide Caption Scottie Scheffler wins Memorial at course he once watched as a fan From fan to champion, Scottie Scheffler wins the Memorial on a course he once dreamed of playing. PGA TOUR The highly anticipated RBC Canadian Open, featuring the world's top golfers, kicked off at the esteemed TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ontario, on Thursday, June 5, and culminates on Sunday, June 8. With the PGA Tour title at stake, the champion of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open will be awarded a staggering $1.764 million from a total prize purse of $9.8 million. The runner-up will not be far behind, earning $1 million, while the third-place finisher will take home $676,200 for their outstanding performance. Here is a breakdown of the prize money earning for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open. WHEN IS 2025 RYDER CUP? Dates, time and what to know for golf event What is the total purse for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open? The total purse for the 2025 RBC Canadian Open is $9.8 million. The first place winner will take home $1.764 million of the prize purse. RBC Canadian Open: Prize money breakdown Money amounts don't include ties. All figures according to the PGA Tour. First place : $1,764,000 : $1,764,000 Second place : $1,068,200 : $1,068,200 Third place : $676,200 : $676,200 Fourth place : $480,200 : $480,200 Fifth place: $401,800 $401,800 Fifth place: $355,250 $355,250 Seventh place: $330,750 $330,750 Eighth place: $306,250 $306,250 Ninth place: $286,650 $286,650 10th place: $267,050 $267,050 11th place: $247,450 $247,450 12th place: $227,850 $227,850 13th place: $208,250 $208,250 14th place: $188,650 $188,650 15th place: $178,850 $178,850 16th place : $169,050 : $169,050 17th place : $159,250 : $159,250 18th place : $149,450 : $149,450 19th place : $139,650 : $139,650 20th place : $129,850 : $129,850 21st place : $129,850 : $129,850 22nd place : $129,850 : $129,850 23rd place: $102,410 $102,410 24th place: $94,570 $94,570 25th place: $86,730 $86,730 26th place: $78,890 $78,890 27th place: $75,950 $75,950 28th place: $73,010 $73,010 29th place: $70,070 $70,070 30th place: $67,130 The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
