Tiger Woods’ rapid rise in the sport made many feel that he would break Jack Nicklaus’ 18-major record. Even Nicklaus himself believed it, until injuries changed the story.

During the Cognizant Classic in 2025, Nicklaus spoke to Golf Channel and offered one of his most honest reflections on Woods’ career. “If he remained healthy, I think he would’ve gotten it, but he didn’t remain healthy,” Nicklaus said.

The 86-year-old golfing legend also added that he “feels bad” for Woods before joking that the 15-time major winner has had a “relatively good career.”

Coming from the man whose record Woods chased for decades, the remark carried unusual weight. Woods still sits second on the all-time major list with 15 titles, three short of Nicklaus’ mark.

The moment Nicklaus decided to reflect only heightened the 'what-if' that struck the players even more deeply. Even though his knee was troubling him, Woods still managed to grab his 14th major title at the 2008 U.S. Open, which was a huge step in the continuation of his golf history-making journey.

Nonetheless, back surgeries, leg injuries, and lengthy absences from the competition have constantly messed up his rhythm.

Tiger Woods’ Long Road Through Injuries and Surgeries

Tiger Woods’ injuries gradually reshaped what once looked like a record-breaking career. The first major turning point came in 2008, when Woods won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

He had an ACL tear and stress fractures in his left leg, and the consequence was that he had to have reconstructive knee surgery. This was his 14th major, and for a bit, the 18th seemed like a sure thing.

Down the line, back issues became the main source of his problems. During the years 2014 to 2017, Woods had various operations, and the last one was a spinal fusion in 2017, which he later credited for allowing him to return and win the 2019 Masters.

After back surgery in 2017, Tiger Woods said, "When healed, I look forward to getting back to a normal life, playing with my kids, competing in professional golf and living without the pain I have been battling so long."

After that, the biggest defeat in Woods' career happened. Woods was involved in a car accident in 2021, which resulted in such serious injuries to his right leg and ankle that multiple operations and a long recovery were necessary.

As a matter of fact, in the year 2025, Woods was still recuperating from an Achilles tendon operation and had another back surgery, which further restricted his calendar.

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Written by

Dolly Bhamrick

Edited by

Souvik Roy