Tiger Woods is on the road to recovery. The winner of 15 majors, Woods, was spotted walking without crutches for the first time since his car crash earlier this month.
What’s even better, he didn’t seem to have a limp either.
🚨BACK ON THE COURSE — Tiger Woods was seen this weekend in Florida watching his son compete at a junior event. TW was wearing a sleeve on his right leg & golf clothes on the range with a club in hand. First sighting in quite some time. 🙌 (Post credit: Mack Williams / Facebook) pic.twitter.com/U7Ie42ZxOE
— TWLEGION (@TWlegion) October 9, 2021
No Bad Energy Please
On Saturday, Oct. 9, the 45-year-old watched his son Charlie take place in a junior golf tournament in Port St.Lucie, Florida. According to reports, Woods moved free through the course without assistance.
The golf legend suffered multiple broken bones and compound fractures in both legs after a car crash in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, back in February. Woods’ car hit a curb and a tree before rolling over the hillside. He was not under the influence and was not charged with a crime.
The greatest comeback story in sports isn’t finished yet 😤 Credit: golfmonthly (Instagram) #golfworld #comeback #tigerwoods pic.twitter.com/mWTruztsjl
— The Golf Clan (@thegolfclan) October 12, 2021
However, the damage was severe, and after being rushed to the hospital, he underwent surgery. Woods returned home, on crutches, three weeks after the accident.
Fast forward eight months later, Woods is back on the green, for his son, seemingly on his own.
The Road To Recovery
According to TMZ Sports, witnesses said Tiger was in great spirits. He alternated between walking holes and riding around in a golf cart. In addition, he is still wearing a sleeve on his surgically repaired right leg.
Tiger also apparently spoke with fans throughout the tournament. Reports say that he thanked them for encouraging words while following his son Charlie around the track.
https://twitter.com/TWlegion/status/1447575444816072706?s=20
It is the first time he has been seen since his February accident without any walking aid. The crash, however, has plunged his golf career into serious doubt.
In a May interview with Golf Digest, Woods admitted that rehab was complex. When asked about the possibility of a golf return, Woods said: “My physical therapy has been keeping me busy. I do my routines every day and am focused on my No. 1 goal right now: walking on my own. Taking it one step at a time.”
“This has been an entirely different animal,” said Woods. “I understand more of the rehab processes because of my past injuries, but this was more painful than anything I have ever experienced.”
The Injury
Woods suffered comminuted open fractures in his right leg. According to Tiger’s medical team, the bone was shattered in two places and broke through the skin.
Doctors used a rod to stabilize it.
According to Dr. Anish Mahajan, Chief Medical Officer at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Tiger’s injuries were extreme.
“Mr. Woods suffered significant orthopedic injuries to his right lower extremity that were treated during emergency surgery by Orthopaedic trauma specialists,” Mahajan said via statement at the time.
“Comminuted open fractures affecting both the upper and lower portions of the tibia and fibula bones were stabilized by inserting a rod into the tibia. Trauma to the muscle and soft-tissue of the leg required surgical release of the covering of the muscles to relieve pressure due to swelling.”
A comminuted fracture is when the bone breaks into several pieces. It being “open” means the bones broke through the skin. Tiger also suffered severe injuries to his right ankle and foot. They were stabilized “with a combination of screws and pins.”
The GOAT
Woods is the GOAT of golf. As one of the greatest golf players in history, he clinched 14 major championships between 1997 and 2008.
In addition, he cemented his legendary status when he broke an 11-year drought at the 2019 Masters. Woods completed a miraculous comeback to become a major champion again.
