Tiger Woods undergoes his seventh back surgery, a lumbar disk replacement, to relieve pain and restore mobility.
Golf legend Tiger Woods revealed Saturday that he underwent a lumbar disk replacement surgery, his seventh back surgery, to address pain and limited mobility caused by a collapsed disc in his lower back.
The procedure took place on Friday in New York, according to Woods’ statement on social media.
Surgery Details and Impact
Woods explained that scans detected a collapsed disc at L4/5, disc fragments, and a compromised spinal canal. After consulting with doctors and surgeons, he opted for disk replacement surgery, calling it “the right decision for my health and my back.” He did not share a specific recovery timeline or whether he would be able to compete in upcoming events like the Hero World Challenge or the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie. Both events are scheduled for December.
The procedure could also potentially impact Woods’ TGL availability. After participating in the league’s inaugural season for the Jupiter Links GC, Woods may find himself on the sidelines to start the season should recovery extend into January or beyond.
Story continues below.
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A Challenging Year
This marks Woods’ second surgery of 2025. In March, he underwent a procedure to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon. It’s also his second back surgery in a little over a year. Woods, who has battled major injuries throughout his career, including a devastating car crash in 2021 that nearly led to amputation of his right leg, has made only 15 starts in four years, most at the PNC Championship, where he can use a cart.
Woods last competed at the PNC Championship alongside his son, finishing as a runner-up in a playoff. His last official full-field PGA Tour start was more than a year ago.
Career Resilience
Woods first underwent back surgery in 2014, with a spinal fusion in 2017, leading to a legendary comeback capped by his 2019 Masters victory. But injuries have continued to challenge the 15-time major winner’s pursuit of more history.
For now, the golf world awaits updates on Woods’ recovery and whether fans will see him back on the course in 2025.
