Tiger Woods might be facing yet another surgery in his ongoing battle with injuries.
The 49-year-old golfer took to social media on Friday to share that he had a lumbar disc replacement surgery.
“After dealing with pain and decreased mobility in my back, I spoke with my doctor and surgeon, and went through testing,” Woods explained, adding that scans showed a collapsed disc at L4/5, along with disc fragmentation and damage to the spinal canal.
“Yesterday, I decided to replace my disc. I believe this was the right call for my health and my back.”
As for when he might return to the game, that’s still uncertain.
This year, Woods has already missed out on the PGA Tour while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered back in March.
It seems likely he will miss his own event, the Hero World Challenge, and the PNC Championship in December, which would be a disappointment as he hasn’t played since the last PNC.
This recent surgery marks the latest in a series of procedures, specifically seven, that Woods has undergone on his back.
His most recent back surgery took place in September 2024, to address a nerve issue in his lower back.
Between 2014 and 2017, he went through four back surgeries, three microdiscectomies, and in April 2017, a spinal fusion surgery that could have ended his career as a five-time Masters champion.
Woods, who was sidelined for most of 2016 and 2017, found success again in 2018 by winning the Tour Championship and securing his fifth Masters title the following spring.
However, since then, he has faced numerous injuries, including a serious car accident in 2021 that resulted in open fractures of both his tibia and fibula, and left him close to losing his right leg.
