Tiger Woods hospitalized after first shock of 2024 season (video)

Less than two weeks after his damaged right leg forced him to withdraw from the Masters before the end of the third round

Tiger Woods underwent surgery on his right ankle Wednesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.

“Earlier today, Tiger underwent a subtalar fusion procedure to address his post-traumatic arthritis from his previous talus fracture,” a statement posted to Woods’ Twitter account said.

“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. Tiger is currently recovering and looks forward to beginning his rehabilitation.”

“He’s resting now and will start the recovery process,” Mark Steinberg, his agent at Excel Sports, said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press.

As for when Woods could return to playing golf, Steinberg said there was “no timetable on this.”

“The first goal is to recover and lead a much more enjoyable day-to-day life,” he said.

Woods was visibly struggling to walk during the rainy third round of the Masters on Saturday, and play was suspended before the round was completed.

Woods withdrew Sunday morning after barely making the cut.

Woods shattered multiple bones in his right leg and ankle in February 2021 when he crashed the SUV he was driving off a suburban coastal Los Angeles road at about 85 mph and tumbled down the side of a hill.

The injuries were so severe, Woods said, that doctors contemplated amputation.

The 47-year-old, who made a comeback at the 2022 Masters, has had multiple surgeries on his leg as a result of the car crash.

Most estimates put recovery from subtalar fusion at eight to 12 weeks. That would all but rule out the PGA Championship next month — Woods was doubtful, anyway, given it will be at Oak Hill in Rochester, N.Y., with likely cold temperatures.