Golf will be back in the spotlight for June’s U.S. Open. However, fans may not notice one of the biggest names in the sport participating.
While the rest of the biggest stars in golf will be at Oakmont Club for the third major of 2025, Tiger Woods will be sidelined.
About 25 years to the date he won his first U.S. Open at 24 years old, shooting a 269 back in 2000, the 49-year-old Woods will continue recovering from a long-term injury while this year’s major is going on.
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Here’s what to know about Woods’ status for the 2025 U.S. Open, and the latest updates on his injury recovery.
MORE: The full list of golfers with career grand slams, from Tiger Woods to Jack Nicklaus
Is Tiger Woods playing in 2025 U.S. Open?
Woods is not playing at the 2025 U.S. Open. The golf star, who is currently tied with Sam Snead for the most PGA Tour wins all-time, will miss the tournament for the eighth time since he first competed as an amateur in 1995.
MORE:Â Full U.S. Open winners by year
What happened to Tiger Woods?
Woods, who also missed the Masters and PGA Championship this year, is still recovering from a ruptured Achilles. In March, he announced that he underwent surgery to repair his left Achilles after suffering the injury while training at home. Woods had just finished the first regular season in TGL history, a league he helped create, as his Jupiter Links missed the playoffs.
“I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab,” Woods said in a statement. “Than you all for the support.”
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 Achilles injury has caused Woods to miss the first three majors of 2025, with the expectation that he’ll also miss the Open Championship in July.
Tiger Woods U.S. Open history
As he misses the 2025 event, Woods will now have not participated in the U.S. open eight times since his first tournament as an amateur in 1995. However, even with plenty of missed tournaments over recent years, he remains one of the greatest players the major has ever seen.
Woods is one of just six golfers to win the U.S. Open at least three times, doing so in 2000, 2002 and 2008. Although he’s missed seven U.S. Opens since 2011, here’s a look at Woods’ history at the major:
| Year | Finish |
| 1995 | WD |
| 1996 | T82 |
| 1997 | T19 |
| 1998 | T18 |
| 1999 | T3 |
| 2000 | Won (-12) |
| 2001 | T12 |
| 2002 | Won (-3) |
| 2003 | T20 |
| 2004 | T17 |
| 2005 | 2nd |
| 2006 | Missed cut |
| 2007 | T2 |
| 2008 | Won (-1) |
| 2009 | T6 |
| 2010 | T4 |
| 2011 | Didn’t participate |
| 2012 | T21 |
| 2013 | T32 |
| 2014 | Didn’t participate |
| 2015 | Missed cut |
| 2016 | Didn’t participate |
| 2017 | Didn’t participate |
| 2018 | Missed cut |
| 2019 | T21 |
| 2020 | Missed cut |
| 2021 | Didn’t participate |
| 2022 | Didn’t participate |
| 2023 | Didn’t participate |
| 2024 | Missed cut |
MORE: The list of golfers with the most U.S. open victories
Tigers Woods Achilles recovery timeline
With Woods set to turn 50 in December, an Achilles injury is expected to be a long-term recovery for the star. It typically takes around a year for athletes to recover from the injury, so between his age and the injury happening in March 2025, Woods will likely be sidelined until at least early 2026.
However, with golf being a sport without many sudden movements or tax put on the lower legs, he may be able to get healthy sooner.
Tiger Woods injury historyÂ
In the later half of his golf career, Woods has dealt with an extended list of injuries. Primarily, they’ve come in his back and lower body.
Here’s a list of injuries Woods has dealt with during his professional golf career.
- December 2002: Left knee surgery to remove fluid
- April 2008: Arthroscopic knee surgery, two stress fractures in left leg
- June 2008: Left ACL surgery, torn Achilles
- May 2010: Inflamed facet joint in neck
- April-May 2011: MCL sprain and Achilles strain
- March 2012: Sore Achilles
- June 2013: Left elbow strain
- March-April 2014: Back spasms and surgery
- September-October 2015: Multiple back surgeries
- February-April 2017: Back spasms and surgery
- March 2019: Neck strain
- August 2019: Strained oblique, left knee surgery
- January 2021: Back surgery
- February 2021: Car accident resulting in right leg and ankle injuries
- April 2023: Ankle surgery
- September 2024: Back surgery
- March 2025: Left Achilles surgery
Will Tiger Woods retire?
While an Achilles rupture is a major setback for any athlete, there aren’t yet any indications that Woods is ready to retire. The statement he released after the injury said he plans to focus on “recovery and rehab” as he moves forward.
Updates on Woods’ future may come closer to his full recovery from the Achilles rupture, but between his TGL endeavors and participation at all four PGA Tour majors in 2024, the expectation is that he’ll be continuing his golf career into 2026.
