Tiger Woods’ ongoing battle with injury took another hit on Sunday, raising fresh concerns across the golf world.
Woods’ career has once again been thrown into question, after it was revealed he’s had his seventh back operation.
Ernie Els was among those to reach out, posting a message of support on social media: “Hang in there Tiger. Like so many I have enjoyed seeing you get back out there again and hope you’re up and about again soon. I know how much you love to compete. Sending strength.”
This isn’t new ground for him either. He famously came back from multiple surgeries to win The Masters in 2019, two years after having a lower back fusion. But now it’s hard not to wonder if this might be one comeback too many.
What PGA Tour players have said will happen if Tiger Woods is allowed to use a cart
Woods’ latest setback was a really sobering one for him and his fans. At 49, his focus now needs to be on recovery rather than a return to competitive golf.
Over the past few years, it’s become clear just how hard it has been for him to walk even 36 holes in two days, let alone 72 over four rounds.
If he does manage a comeback, using a golf cart could be an option available to him under medical grounds.
And there has been plenty of talk about what that could mean for his game. Trey Wingo recently spoke about what he’s heard from players on the subject.
He said: “I’ve had Tour players tell me, if Tiger would just take a medical exemption, if he’d just take a medical exemption and take a cart he’d probably win three times a year on the PGA Tour and maybe find a way to bag another major, which would be his 16th.”
“But he won’t do it, and I just think this last surgery could be the exclamation point or the period on Tiger Woods’ competitive career.”
It’s not something many expect him to accept easily either. He’s always held himself to high standards.
Questions remain if Tiger Woods would accept golf cart exemption
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), PGA Tour players are able to request the use of a cart, though it’s not a simple process and each case is looked at individually.
The first high-profile example came in 2001 when Casey Martin was granted permission after a court battle that went all the way to the Supreme Court. The ruling forced the PGA Tour to make ‘reasonable accommodations’ for players with disabilities.
In 2019, John Daly was allowed to use a cart at the PGA Championship due to his arthritis, showing that these exemptions, while rare, do happen.
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Tiger Woods has every reason to qualify given his back and leg issues, but according to Trey Wingo, it’s unlikely he’d ever take up that option. It speaks volumes about Woods’ mindset – even if he met all criteria, winning with a cart probably wouldn’t sit well with him.
On the Champions Tour, carts are much more widely used. It will be interesting to see if Woods chooses that route should he decide to play on the senior circuit in future years.