Tiger Woods’ Hair Transplant Rumours: Truth or Speculation?

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Tiger Woods’ Hair Transplant Rumours: Truth or Speculation?

Rumours have been swirling online about Tiger Woods’ hair transplant. The golf star has been progressively balding for years, but some people wonder whether his hairline is natural or the result of hair restoration surgery.

However, Tiger’s hair today is not the typical result you’d expect from a hair transplant. Did he really have one, or are they just rumours? In this article, we’ll explore:

  • If Tiger Woods had a hair transplant or not
  • Tiger Woods’ balding timeline
  • Hair loss treatment options for Tiger
Table of Contents

Who is Tiger Woods?

Did you know that Tiger’s real name isn’t Tiger? Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods was born in 1975, and you likely know him as the most famous professional golfer in the world.

He’s won 82 PGA tour titles, tying him for number one in history. He also holds the record for being ranked number one worldwide for most weeks. 

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Tiger Woods’ hair transplant: did it happen?

It seems unlikely that Tiger Woods had a hair transplant. With a hair transplant, there is usually a period of noticeable hair loss followed by a sudden improvement.

In Tiger’s case, he has steadily lost hair over the years, consistent with the usual course of androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness). The only aspect of Tiger’s hair that doesn’t fully follow the typical pattern of male pattern baldness is his hairline.

With male pattern baldness, as hair loss spreads from your scalp to the crown, your hairline continues to recede over time. However, Tiger has mostly retained his hairline, although it’s clearly thinning.

Tiger Woods’ balding covered with cap

Why is a hair transplant unlikely for Tiger?

There are several reasons Tiger Woods is unlikely to have had a hair transplant. First, his hair has not suddenly and noticeably improved.

Although Tiger nearly always wears a hat, which could potentially conceal any surgery, you’d expect a sudden improvement when his hat is removed, but this doesn’t seem to be the case.

Secondly, if he did have a hair transplant, it doesn’t appear to have been very successful. A hair transplant is permanent, but Tiger still has significant thinning across the scalp, which appears to be getting worse. 

As the richest golfer in the world, Tiger can afford the best. If he opted for a hair transplant, he’d likely choose a top surgeon capable of restoring a fuller, thicker head of hair than he currently has. It’s more likely that Tiger’s continuing hairline recession is due to genetics than a hair transplant gone wrong. 

Tiger’s own comments about his hair loss imply that he hasn’t had a transplant. He commented on his own hair loss:

 “We are not what we used to be; I get it. I’ve got my helipad up top, and I’m very happy with that. I get a hat on, so I don’t get sunburned on the little centre. [1]” 

This implies that Tiger is comfortable with his looks, has made peace with his hair loss, and is not in the market for a hair transplant.

Tiger Woods’ hair over the years

Tiger Woods’ hair has changed drastically over the years. Let’s look at how things have changed between 1995 and the present day.

Tiger Woods hair age 19

In 1995, Tiger Woods was just 19 years old. He was already making a name for himself in the golfing world, and he still had a low, youthful hairline with no signs of recession.

Tiger Woods hair age 24

By the age of 24, Tiger had started to show the earliest signs of androgenetic alopecia. He had some temple hair loss and was developing an M-shaped hairline, putting him at a stage 2-3 on the Norwood scale. 

Tiger Woods hair age 33

By 2009, at 33 years old, Tiger’s hairline had changed again. While his temple hair loss was quite stable, his hairline had started to recede and was higher than it was nine years ago.

Tiger Woods hair age 37

The image above shows Tiger in 2013, aged 37. While the position of his hairline hadn’t obviously changed, its density had.

His frontal hairline had started to thin, so you could see his scalp underneath. This is consistent with male pattern baldness.

Tiger Woods hair age 41

By 2017, age 41, Tiger’s hair loss had progressed significantly. Not only did he have frontal balding, you could now see thinning all the way to the back of his scalp across the top of his head.

However, the shape of his frontal hairline was preserved. This may be the reason that some people hypothesise Tiger Woods had a hair transplant. Usually, in male pattern baldness, the frontal hairline continues to recede as hair further back starts to thin.

Tiger Woods hair age 47

By 2023, age 47, Tiger’s hair loss was even more significant. You can clearly see his scalp from his forehead to the back of his head. However, again, his frontal hairline remains preserved.

Tiger Woods hair age 48

This photo from 2024 shows the back of Tiger’s scalp. You can clearly see the light reflecting off a bald spot on his crown where no hair is covering his scalp.

Again, this is consistent with male pattern baldness, which tends to affect the front of the scalp, a patch on the crown, and eventually the two join up.

What treatment options does he have? 

Tiger Woods appears to have made peace with his hair loss. But if he decides to restore his hair, he has plenty of options. Here are some of the top treatments for male pattern baldness.

Medications

There are two FDA-approved medications for male pattern baldness — topical Minoxidil and oral Finasteride.

Minoxidil stimulates hair growth and slows down hair loss [2]. Finasteride blocks the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for hair loss. This can partially reverse symptoms of male pattern baldness and prevent further hair loss [2].

PRP hair treatment for male pattern baldness

PRP therapy

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) hair treatment is a type of regenerative medicine which involves using platelets from your own blood. A concentrated sample of platelets is injected into areas of hair loss. Research shows this can stimulate follicles for hair growth and improve hair density [3].

Low-level laser therapy

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is another FDA-approved treatment for hair loss. Research suggests it is effective for male pattern baldness, boosting hair growth and density [4].

Hair transplant

A natural-looking hair transplant is the gold standard treatment for male pattern baldness. This procedure involves moving healthy hair follicles from the donor area, usually the back or sides of the head, to areas of hair loss. 

There are two main types of hair transplant: follicular unit extra extraction (FUE) and follicular unit transplantation (FUT). While both methods involve moving hair follicles from one area to another, they differ in how follicles are harvested.

FUT vs FUE hair transplant

The diagram above shows the difference between FUE and FUT. 

Treating hair loss at the Wimpole Clinic

Have you got hair loss similar to Tiger Woods? At the Wimpole Clinic, we specialise in treating male pattern baldness.

Our expert trichologists can identify whether androgenetic alopecia or something else is causing your hair loss. They’ll complete a comprehensive assessment and use diagnostic trichology tests if needed, such as a hair pull test or blood tests for hair loss.

If you’re a good candidate for a hair transplant, you’ll have access to some of the best hair transplant surgeons in the UK. These surgeons can create such natural-looking results that it’s possible to get a hair transplant without anyone knowing.

Ready to get your hair back on track? Book a consultation at your nearest clinic location today.

Tiger Woods’ Hair Transplant Rumours: Truth or Speculation?, Wimpole Clinic

FAQs

Tiger Woods has been asked if he’s thinking about shaving his head. He responded: “I think I will, but I’m fighting the cause. I’m fighting it hard. It’s a no-win fight, but I’m hanging in there.” [5]

Many men are self-conscious about their receding hairline because it can make you look older, particularly if it affects you at a young age. However, receding headlines are very common in men as they get older, and some people see them as a sign of maturity. Many celebrities who can afford hair transplants embrace their receding hairline as a natural part of ageing. 

A receding hairline does not pose any risk to your general health. However, it may indirectly affect your health if it makes you feel self-conscious and less confident. 

Tiger Woods did have surgery in 2024, but it wasn’t related to his hair. Tiger had a car crash in 2021 that injured his right leg and foot, and in 2024, he underwent surgery to relieve nerve impingement in his lower back.

Sources:
  1. Tiger Woods’s Hair Loss: Is It Genetic, and Has Hair Transplant Ever Been an Option For Him? 
  2. Male Androgenetic Alopecia 
  3. Autologous activated platelet-rich plasma (AA-PRP) and non-activated (A-PRP) in hair growth: a retrospective, blinded, randomized evaluation in androgenetic alopecia 
  4. Low‐level laser therapy as a treatment for androgenetic alopecia – Afifi – 2017 – Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 
  5. Tiger Woods Admits His Battle with Baldness Is a ‘No-Win Fight’ 
The Wimpole Clinic offers FUE Hair, Beard & Eyebrow Transplants & Trichology.
Talk to a specialist ☎ 020 7935 1861.

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