Professional golfer and global sports icon Tiger Woods has again gone under the knife in an attempt to repair issues to his lower back that have plagued him for much of the past year.
Wood released a statement via his X account detailing the procedure on Friday, September 13.
“Earlier this morning, Tiger underwent micro-decompression surgery of the lumbar spine for nerve impingement in the lower back,” the statement said. “Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach performed the surgery and deemed it to be successful.”
“The surgery went smoothly, and I’m hopeful this will help alleviate the back spasms and pain I was experiencing throughout most of the 2024 season,” Woods said. “I look forward to tackling this rehab and preparing myself to get back to normal life activities, including golf.”
Tiger Woods Barely Played in 2024, Hasn’t Won on PGA Tour in 5 Years
GettyTiger Woods during the second round of the 2024 Genesis Invitational.
Woods, now 48 years old, is currently ranked 975th in the world. He has 82 career victories on the PGA Tour, though his last came five years ago at the ZOZO Championship.
For his career, Woods has amassed 15 major victories. However, he last won a major tournament when he captured the 2019 Masters Championship at Augusta National Golf Club. Somewhat ironically, the 2024 Masters Tournament in early April was the last event at which Woods made a cut.
ESPN reported that Woods took the opening tee box at just five events during the past season: all four major tournaments along with the Genesis Invitational at Riviera. Woods functions as the tournament host of the latter event, but withdrew early in the second round this year due to an illness.
Tiger Woods’ Long Injury History Brings Into Question How Many More Surgeries, Comebacks He Can Endure
GettyTiger Woods at the 2024 Masters Tournament.
Woods is one of the greatest golfers in the history of the sport by any measure, and there are several analysts and experts who would argue he is the greatest of all time.
However, the number of serious injuries and major surgeries he’s battled over the last several years bring into question how much longer he can compete at a high level.
Phil Mickelson is the oldest player to ever win a major, doing so at just shy 51 when he captured the PGA Championship three years ago.
Woods will turn 49 on December 30, which already makes him older than Julius Boros — the second-oldest major champion ever — who who the 1968 PGA Championship at 48 years, 4 months and 18 days, per ESPN.
Tom Watson lost in a four-hole playoff to Stewart Cink at the 2009 Open Championship, finishing second in the tournament at the age of 59.
Greg Norman, then 53 years old, held the 54-hole lead in the 2008 Open Championship the year prior to Watson’s run. However, he ended up losing to K.J. Choi by one shot and finished as the runner-up.
Woods has always been a fitness fanatic, and if he can get his back and his legs truly healthy once again after several years characterized by frequent and serious injury, he may be able to compete spottily in big moments for another decade to come. However, if he can’t, golf fans may have seen the last of Woods in the PGA Tour winner’s circle.
That said, Woods will become eligible to join the PGA Champions Tour, known colloquially as the Senior Tour, upon his 50th birthday at the end of 2025.
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Tiger Woods Announces New Surgery, Effort to Return to PGA Tour