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Tiger Woods Masters April Fool’s Prank Dashes Hopes After Injury Setback
Golf icon Tiger Woods ignited a wave of excitement among fans by suggesting he would participate in the Masters tournament next week, only to reveal it was an April Fool’s joke minutes later. The 15-time major champion underwent surgery in March to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon, sustained during at-home training, further delaying his anticipated return to competitive golf.
Setback Ends 2025 Masters Ambitions
Augusta National has been the scene of six of Woods’ major victories, including his memorable 2019 Masters triumph. However, persistent injury problems have hindered the celebrated golfer’s pursuit of another major title in recent years. This latest physical setback has extinguished any prospect of him competing in the 2025 Masters Tournament.
Excitement Turns to Disappointment
After briefly raising expectations of a swift recovery and Masters appearance, Woods quickly tempered enthusiasm with a subsequent announcement clarifying his initial post was a prank.
- His initial social media post stated: “I can’t believe I am saying this, but a few weeks after rupturing my left Achilles, the sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber plus the explosive lifts my doctors and trainers have me ready to play the Masters next week! Can’t wait! See y’all on the course.”
- In a follow-up post just minutes later, Woods revealed: “P.S. April Fools my Achilles is still a mess :)” confirming the initial message was an April Fool’s Day jest.
Fan Reactions to Woods’ Prank
Many followers expressed surprise and amusement at the 49-year-old’s lighthearted prank. Online reactions varied, with some fans playfully chiding Woods for the deception.
- One social media user wrote: “God damnit, Tiger,” expressing a mix of frustration and humor.
- Another commented: “Don’t do this to us Tiger,” conveying the disappointment felt by some fans.
- A further user posted: “This is a wild April Fool’s joke lmao,” acknowledging the unexpected nature of the prank.
Continued Injury Woes for Golf Star
Woods has been absent from PGA Tour competition since July of the previous year. He underwent his sixth back operation in September, and the Masters had been tentatively marked as a potential comeback event before his most recent Achilles injury.
Achilles Rupture Requires Surgery
Providing details of the injury sustained several weeks ago, Woods explained, “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.” He added, “This morning, Dr Charlton Stucken of the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida performed a minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair for a ruptured tendon.”
According to Dr. Stucken, the surgical procedure was successful, and Woods is expected to make a complete recovery. However, the golfer’s own description of his Achilles as ‘a mess’ suggests a potentially lengthy rehabilitation period, definitively ruling out participation in the upcoming Masters and casting uncertainty on his near-term competitive future.