Tiger Woods' Gym Habit Cost Him 10 Majors, Golf Analyst Claims

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Apr 8, 2026 5:27 PM ET

As Tiger Woods' golf career is once again put on hold, one former pro golfer believes that Woods could have been the all-time major winner if he had made some changes in the gym.

Appearing on the Dan Patrick Show, former PGA Tour golfer and current golf analyst Brandel Chamblee mused that Woods' decision to focus on building strength in the gym rather than speed. He believes that Woods' body broke down from his training and ultimately did more harm thatn good.

“He would have probably won 125 golf tournaments and 25 majors,” Chamblee said. “He traded speed for strength. Maybe it helped him think he deserved it. Maybe it helped him be intimidating. And I’m sure he wanted to treat golf like a sport. But his body broke down pretty quickly. I just don’t know if he was training properly or that he got the proper rest. Either way, I don’t think it did him a whole lot of good.”

But Chamblee conceded that Woods made golf look cool and managed to accomplish nearly everything in spite of how his body broke down. He still believes that Woods' injuries and changes to his swing kept him from becoming the all-time leader in major wins.

“He did make the sport look cool, and he looked awesome,” Chamblee admitted. “And you can’t argue with the record. 15 major championships and 82 tournaments. But the injuries, changing his golf swing, kept him from being the all-time major champion.”

Tiger Woods' Injury History

Woods’ golf career - one of the most successful in history - has also been marked by an extraordinary number of injuries and surgeries that repeatedly derailed his play. Early in his career he dealt with knee issues, including surgeries in the 1990s and a ruptured ACL in 2007.

Beginning in the 2010s, his body underwent multiple major procedures - including several back surgeries, ankle and Achilles tendon repairs, and extensive leg fracture recovery after a serious 2021 rollover car crash - which limited his competitive schedule for much of more than a decade. He often returned briefly to competition but was plagued by chronic pain and structural issues that contributed to long absences and diminished on-course results. Most recently, he underwent a lumbar disc replacement in late 2025 as part of ongoing efforts to manage severe back problems.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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