Tiger Woods underwent micro decompression surgery on his lumbar spine to address nerve impingement in his lower back, as announced in a social media post on Friday.
The 48-year-old golfer had the procedure in West Palm Beach, Florida. It’s believed to be his sixth back operation in the past decade.
“The surgery went smoothly, and I’m hopeful this will help ease the back spasms and pain I’ve been experiencing throughout most of the 2024 season,” Woods said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to starting rehab and getting back to normal activities, including golf.”
According to Woods’s statement, Dr Sheeraz Qereshi of Hospital for Special Surgery performed the operation.
Woods competed in only five tournaments this year. He withdrew after one round due to illness at the Genesis Invitational, set a record by making the cut for the 24th consecutive time at the Masters but finished 60th at the PGA Championship, and then missed cuts at the U.S. Open and British Open.
The 15-time major champion, who still struggles with issues in his lower right leg from a serious car crash in February 2021, played just 11 official rounds this year.
Woods has had microdiscectomy procedures to relieve disc problems in his lower back in 2014, twice in 2015, and again in 2020, just months before the car crash.
In April 2017, Woods had a spinal fusion, thought to possibly end his career, which fused his lower spine. Less than a year later, he returned to competitive golf, winning the Tour Championship in 2018, followed by the Masters for his 15th major in 2019. Later that year, he won the ZOZO Championship for his 82nd PGA Tour title, matching Sam Snead’s record.
Woods took part earlier this week in activities at the Nexus Cup, an event held at Liberty National in New Jersey in conjunction with his TGR Foundation.
After his final round at Royal Troon this summer, he said he didn’t expect to play any competitive golf again this year until the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in early December, an event that benefits his foundation.
