Tiger Woods’ return to the PGA Tour may have to wait even longer.
Woods announced Saturday that he had undergone lumbar disc replacement surgery in his lower back. The surgery, which took place Friday, was deemed a success.
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“After experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back, I consulted with doctors and surgeons to have tests taken,” Woods said in a statement. “The scans determined that I had a collapsed disc in L4/5, disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal. I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday, and I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back.”
Woods did not provide any sort of timeline for his return to competitive golf.
When will Tiger Woods compete again?
This injury is just the latest that Woods has sustained in recent years. He’s undergone several major back surgeries throughout his career, and he nearly lost his right leg completely after he was involved in a car crash in Southern California in 2021.
He announced in March that he had ruptured his left Achilles’ tendon while training at home, too, which knocked him out for the majority of the season.
Woods has already started cutting his playing schedule significantly in recent years. He has said repeatedly that he wants to play in the four major championships and a select few other events each season. He missed the cut at three of the four major championships in 2024, however, and he finished in 60th at the Masters that season. He’s actually only finished three of his last 13 Tour events dating back to 2020.
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Woods has won 82 times on Tour, which matches Sam Snead’s all-time record, and 15 major championships throughout his career. That trails only Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 major championship titles.
Before the back surgery, the most realistic return spot for Woods would have been The Genesis Invitational in February, as he hosts that event in Los Angeles each season. He may have participated in the parent-child PNC Championship or other unofficial Tour events before then, and it’s unclear if he’d play in his TGL league.
But now, with another back surgery to deal with as he’s set to turn 50 in another few weeks, it’s fair to question whether Woods will be ready in time for the Tour’s stop at Riviera Country Club. He’s said that his biggest issue lately has simply been walking the course for four straight days due to his leg and back injuries, which just aren’t going away.
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At this point, when Woods competes again competitively is anybody’s guess.
