Tiger Woods was hoping to ramp up his preparations for major season, but the 15-time champion is now set for an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious injury

Video Player is loading.

Current Time 0:00

Duration 10:03

Loaded: 0%

Remaining Time 10:03

Tiger Woods is set for an extended spell out of golf after confirming he has ruptured his Achilles.

The 15-time major champion was hoping to return to competitive action ahead of the Masters next month, but is now set for a length period of recovery.

Woods released a statement on social media which read: “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.

“This morning, Dr. Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida performed a minimally-invasive Achilles tendon repair for a ruptured tendon.

“The surgery went smoothly, and we expect a full recovery,” added Dr. Stucken. I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab, thank you for all the support.”

Woods has not competed on the PGA Tour since last summer’s Open Championship at Royal Troon, where he missed the cut. That came after failing to make the cut at both the US Open and PGA Championship.

He did make the weekend at the Masters, keeping up a run which has seen him do so every year he has competed since 1996.

Following the Open in Scotland he underwent surgery for nerve impingement on his lower back, a procedure which is believed to be his 10th on his lower back in a decade.

Tiger Woods hasn’t competed on the PGA Tour since the Open at Royal Troon last summer ( Image: Getty Images)

Woods was expected to return last month as the host of the Genesis Invitational but withdrew on the eve of the tournament after the passing of his mother. He has appeared in the TGL and speaking last week he admitted that his heart wasn’t into practicing.

He said: This is the third time I’ve touched a club since my mom passed, so I haven’t really got into it. My heart is really not into practicing right now.”

The 49-year-old also suggested his position on the PGA Tour’s policy board was taking up his attention. “I’ve had so many other things to do with the Tour and trying to do other things,” he said, indicating his focus has been elsewhere.

“Once I start probably feeling a little bit better and start getting into it, I’ll start looking at the schedule.”

There had been hope that he would be involved in this weekend’s Players’ Championship, but will now likely miss all four majors. The Masters is the first of the year starting on April 10, with the Open three months later.