Tiger Woods underwent successful lumbar disc replacement surgery last week and while the five-time major champion is focused on a return to golf, one doctor is concerned
03:38 ET, 17 Oct 2025Updated 03:52 ET, 17 Oct 2025
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA – JANUARY 07: Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links Golf Club looks on before the TGL presented by SoFi match between the New York Golf Club and The Bay Golf Club at SoFi Center on January 07, 2025 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Brennan Asplen/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images)
Throughout most of his career, Tiger Woods has worked around injuries, claiming victories on one leg, enduring pain while walking, and constantly rebuilding his swing as a result. Medical professionals outside his inner circle are now stating that if the decision were theirs, he would never compete again.
Woods disclosed last Saturday that he had undergone lumbar disc replacement surgery. This procedure marked another in a lengthy series of back surgeries that have characterized the second half of his professional journey.
The 15-time major champion provided details about his choice in an official statement. “After experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back, I consulted with doctors and surgeons to have tests taken,” Woods explained.
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“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.”
Tiger Woods has suffered a lengthy list of injuries throughout his career(Image: Getty Images)
Supporters have subsequently called for Woods to step away from the game online, reports the Mirror US.
Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi and his medical team at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York performed the operation, which they characterized as “successful.”
However, during Woods’ recovery period, whether he should return to competition has sparked heated online discussions.
An individual familiar with Woods’ situation informed journalists that he “wants to push himself until there’s nothing more he can do,” and that making a comeback remains a personal objective, despite the absence of any established timeframe.
However, Dr. Kern Singh, a prominent spinal surgeon and co-director of the Minimally Invasive Spinal Institute at Rush in Illinois, told the Daily Mail that although Woods could theoretically make a comeback, he likely shouldn’t.
The 15-time major champion provided details about his choice in an official statement(Image: Getty Images North America)
“Physiologically, yes, a return to professional competition is possible if healing proceeds uneventfully,” Dr. Singh said.
Dr. Singh clarified that disc replacement surgery seeks to restore movement and minimize stress, which would be essential for an athlete dependent on rotational strength like Woods on the golf course.
However, given Wood’s surgical background, his age of 49, and the extensive work done on his spine, the risk-benefit equation shifts beyond what’s typical for most cases.
Dr. Singh also serves as the team physician for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox. He observed that standard recovery from disc replacement surgery takes four to six weeks before gradual rehabilitation commences.
Yet Singh cautioned that for elite-level performance, particularly for a golfer whose body depends on torque and smooth motion, the timeline could extend to six months, or potentially a complete year.
Woods’ most recent season was in 2024 and indicated a deterioration in his performance along with his physical state.
He withdrew from The Genesis Invitational in February, finished 60th at The Masters, and missed the cut at the PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open.
His last completed tournament on the PGA Tour was at Augusta in 2024, where he posted a 16-over 304.
