Tiger Woods underwent another surgery on his lower back on Friday morning, a procedure he hopes will provide some relief from the cramps he's experienced this year.
This was his sixth back surgery in the past 10 years.
In a short statement on social media, Woods explained that the surgery was a micro-decompression procedure for compressed nerves in his lower back.
This is also called a microdiscectomy, and recovery takes 8 to 12 weeks.
Woods wasn't scheduled to play again until the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas from Dec. 5-8 and the PNC Championship with son Charlie in Orlando, Florida, from Dec. 21-22.
“The surgery went well and I am hopeful it will help relieve the back spasms and pain I have been experiencing for much of the 2024 season,” Woods said.
Woods has played in only five tournaments this year: the four majors and his own Genesis Invitational at Riviera in February, where he was only able to play 24 holes because of an illness.
The only time he specifically mentioned back spasms was during the tournament, when he was describing a shanked shot on the 18th hole in the opening round. He said he had been dealing with the spasms “at home, not during the match.”
When I asked him what was causing the spasms, he replied curtly, “My back is stiff.”
Woods underwent his first microdiscectomy in April 2014, two more the following year and lumbar fusion surgery in 2017. He underwent another microdiscectomy in December 2020 to remove compressed disc fragments.
Two months later, he was involved in a speeding SUV accident in Los Angeles, shattering bones in his right leg and ankle and would suffer further injuries while attempting to play a limited schedule.
Excel Sports manager Mark Steinberg was traveling Friday and was not immediately available to comment further.
“I look forward to working through this rehabilitation process and preparing to return to normal life activities, including golf,” Woods said in a statement.
He qualified just one tournament this year, the Masters, setting a record with 24 consecutive cuts at Augusta National, and this year marked the first time he has played in all four majors since 2019, when he won the Masters for his 15th major victory.
