Summary
Tiger Woods has undergone his seventh back surgery, focusing on replacing a disk in his lower back that had caused pain and mobility issues. In a social media post, Woods reported that the surgery was performed in New York and that he believes it was the right decision for his health and his troubled back.
Although he didn't specify how long he'll be away from golf, questions remain about his participation in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas or the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie, both tournaments scheduled for December. He hasn't competed since his playoff loss at last year's PNC Championship.
This procedure is Woods' second this year, having undergone surgery in March for a ruptured left Achilles tendon. It's also his second back surgery in the past 13 months. Woods said he consulted doctors after experiencing pain and lack of mobility in his back. "X-rays showed I had a collapsed disk at L4/L5, disk fragments, and a compromised spinal canal," Woods said Saturday. "I decided to replace my disk yesterday, and I know I made a good decision for my health and my back."
Key details
Woods' first back surgery was performed in April 2014, which eventually led to his lower back being fused in 2017. The following year, he won the Tour Championship and then captured his 15th major and fifth green jacket at the 2019 Masters.
Over the past five years, his back has been just one part of a body that has suffered multiple injuries. The most serious occurred in February 2021, when a car accident fractured his right leg and ankle, nearly leading him to consider amputation. He managed to return a year later at the 2022 Masters. Since the accident, Woods has competed only 15 times in the past four years, four of them at the PNC Championship, where he is allowed to use a cart for the 36-hole event.
