Tiger Woods Says He'll Never Play Professional Golf Full Time after February Car Crash

Tiger Woods fans will have to contend with seeing the professional golfer only at selected events throughout the year. The star’s injury was more severe than what we imagined.

In February 2021, Tiger Woods, 45, was involved in a car crash. The accident happened on the border of Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates in Southern California.

Woods’ vehicle struck a sign in the center divider. It cut through a tree and ended up alongside the road. At the time, CNN managed to obtain documents about the incident.

Tiger Woods at the 18th hole during the final round of the Hero World Challenge on December 4, 2016, in Nassau, Bahamas | Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The publication revealed the professional golf player told the police he had no recollection of driving that day. He also allegedly couldn’t remember how the incident happened.

It seemed Woods was well on his way to full recovery when he shared a three-second social media video of himself practicing his swing earlier this month. This wasn't what he expected after his accident.

Vice-captain Tiger Woods of the US poses during team photocalls prior to the Ryder Cup on September 27, 2016, in Chaska, Minnesota | Photo: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

In a recent interview with Golf Digest, he confessed that there was a point where it seemed he had a 50/50 chance of leaving the hospital with one leg.

He said the single-vehicle rollover car crash left him with significant orthopedic injuries to his right leg, along with fractures to his tibia and fibula bones.

Woods also elaborated on his future in sports. He seemed to acknowledge that he wasn’t going to be the same player he once was, though he believes he could still compete.

However, he would have to be quite selective about which tournaments he would participate in. The athlete resigned himself to his fate but shared what he intended to do to continue playing his favorite sport, stating:

Ben Hogan was another professional golfer who was in a vehicular accident involving a bus in 1949. Like Hogan, Woods told the outlet that he would choose several events each year and work on them.

The star noted how unfortunate the way things had turned out but admitted that it was now his reality. He showed no bitter or negative feelings about his fate, sharing that he understood and accepted it.

Woods, who did his 30-minute interview remotely from his South Florida home, acknowledged that even if he wouldn't be able to compete against the best golf players in the world, he could still live a great life.

Meanwhile, Golf.com anticipates the athlete will be having a press conference this week at the Hero World Challenge golf tournament in the Bahamas. It’s expected to be his return to public life after his accident.