Tiger Woods made it very clear to Jack Nicklaus in a conversation prior to play at the 2023 Masters just how serious a toll his leg injuries were having on him.
Nicklaus, 83, spoke about his relationship with his fellow golf great with reporters ahead of his appearance in the Greats of Golf exhibition Saturday as part of the Champions tour and made a pretty candid revelation about Wood’s health.
“I don’t know a whole lot about what he’s been through,” Nicklaus said via Golfweek.
“He’s showed a lot of guts and courage to play and try to be part of what’s going on with the way he’s been,” he continued. “He’s actually swinging pretty well; he just can’t walk.”
Woods, 47, was in a debilitating single-car accident in early 2021, suffering gruesome foot and leg injuries.
While he has made it back to golf competition, he has been noticeably hobbled in each tournament in which he’s participated.
Nicklaus said the two are in consistent communication and chatted while sitting next to each other at the Champions Dinner prior to this year’s Masters.
“We talk quite a bit,” Nicklaus said. “He said, ‘I’m really playing well. I’m hitting the ball great. My short game’s great. My putting’s good.’ He said, ‘I just can’t walk.’ And he says, ‘If it helps where I can walk, I’m willing to do it.’ ”
In April, after fizzling out at The Masters as bad weather made the rigors even more difficult, Woods announced he was undergoing surgery to “address his post-traumatic arthritis from his previous talus fracture.”
The 47-year-old Woods has been chasing Nicklaus’ record 18 major championships throughout his career.
Woods has won 15.
“He wouldn’t be having the operations if he wasn’t interested in wanting to continue to play,” Nicklaus said. “He’s a very motivated and dedicated young man to continue to play the game of golf.”
Woods’ announcement detailed some more information about his procedure.
“It was performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley at HSS Sports Medicine Institute in New York City. He has determined the surgery to be successful,” the statement said.
“Tiger is currently recovering and looks forward to beginning his rehabilitation.”
Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg told the AP there was no timetable for the golfer’s return to the sport.
