Tiger Woods: Seventh back surgery in 11 years, goodbye to golf?

Tiger Woods Undergoes Seventh Back Surgery

The legendary golfer Tiger Woods underwent his seventh back surgery on Friday, this time to replace a disc in his lower back that was causing him pain and mobility issues. Through a social media post on Saturday, Woods reported that the surgical intervention took place in New York. The athlete added that he considered this decision to be the right one for his health and his back, which has presented various problems. Woods did not specify how long he will be out of the courts, although it is unknown if he intended to participate in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas or the PNC Championship alongside his son, Charlie. Both tournaments are scheduled for December. The last time Woods competed was at the PNC Championship last year, where he lost in a playoff. This is Woods’ second surgery this year, following a procedure in March due to a rupture of the left Achilles tendon. In addition, it is his second back operation in the last 13 months. Woods explained that he made the decision to undergo surgery after consulting with doctors and surgeons, due to the pain and lack of mobility he was experiencing in his back.

“The scans determined I had a collapsed disc at L4/5, disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal,” Woods wrote in Saturday’s post. “I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday, and I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back.”

Tiger Woods

The first of Woods’ seven back surgeries was in April 2014, which ultimately led to a fusion in the lumbar area in 2017. A year later, he won the Tour Championship and, in 2019, achieved his 15th major and his fifth green jacket at the Masters. In February 2021, Woods suffered a car accident that fractured his right leg and ankle, a situation that, according to him, almost led to amputation. Woods returned to competition a year later, at the 2022 Masters. Since the accident, Woods has participated in only 15 tournaments in the last four years, including four at the PNC Championship, where he can use a cart during the 36-hole event.