Tiger Woods’ achilles injury has once again set back the former world number one but if there’s one man who knows about coming back from that injury, it’s Bernhard Langer.
Langer suffered a similar achilles injury in 2024 which required surgery but remarkably, the German came back within three months and is once again competing on the Champions Tour.
Langer will also tee it up at the Masters this year for the final time and many will see it as a crying shame that Woods won’t be there for his last hurrah at Augusta National.
However, when it comes to Woods returning from injury again, Langer has issued his own advice for the 15-time major winner.
Bernhard Langer shares injury advice to Tiger Woods
Langer was speaking at the HOAG Championship and given his own achilles injury last year, was asked about Woods’ latest injury.
And when asked specifically on the advice he’d give Woods, Langer was pretty blunt in his assessment.
“Well, I would tell him to make sure he does all the rehab, which I’m sure he will, and take his time. Many of us are impatient and want to come back as quick as possible, especially him,” Langer said.
“I think he’s had so many issues lately that it’s tough to be away and get hurt again and be away again. He’s hardly played any competitive rounds. But this kind of injury takes time to heal, especially at the age he’s at as well. He’s not 20 anymore.
“Anyways, that would be my advice, just follow the protocol and take your time, rather give it
a week more than a week less.”
Asked on the issues around Tiger’s injuries in general, Langer admitted it gets harder and harder as they stack up.
“Well, every bit is another insult to injury or whatever, another problem. It’s not helping. I don’t know if it’s the leg that was hurt in the accident or the other one, I’m not aware of any of the details so I really can’t tell. He’s a real athlete, he takes care of his body and works out maybe more than most, so he will do the right thing and hopefully come back at the right time.”
When asked if he’d actually reached out to Woods to speak to him since the injury, Langer admitted he’s not had that conversation yet.
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The big name athletes to come back from achilles injuries
Tiger Woods will be buoyed by the fact Bernhard Langer – at 66 – came back from what could have been a career ending injury.
However, Woods can also look beyond golf for sportspeople who have made big recoveries as well.
In the NBA, achilles injuries are common but some of the biggest names like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and the much celebrated Isiah Thomas, all suffered problems. For Thomas, it ended his career but for Durant and Bryant, it was merely a bump in the road.
Outside of the NBA, global soccer phenomenon David Beckham also came back from the same injury, while in the NFL, Cam Akers actually came back in the same season back in 2001.
Given Woods’ previous injuries, you’d imagine he’ll be on the longer side of recovery but as with the above examples, you simply never know.
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