Tiger Woods underwent microdecompression surgery of the lumbar spine for nerve impingement in his lower back, he announced via X on Friday.
“The surgery went smoothly,” Woods said in the statement. “I’m hopeful this will help alleviate the back spasms and pain I was experiencing throughout most of the 2024 season. I look forward to tackling this rehab and preparing myself to get back to normal life activities, including golf.”
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) September 13, 2024
This is Woods’ sixth back surgery and fifth microdecompression (microdiscectomy) surgery, the first since 2021.
Woods hoped to play once a month in 2024 but that proved unrealistic — after withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational in February he only played in the four majors for the rest of the PGA Tour season. He made the cut at the Masters but slumped over the weekend to fall into last place, then missed the cut at the PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open from May to July.
The Hero World Challenge — an annual tournament for 20 top-ranked golfers, hosted by Woods — would likely have been Woods’ next pro start. It’s scheduled from Dec. 5-8 at Albany Golf Course in the Bahamas.
His last PGA Tour win came in 2019 at the Zozo Championship. He has not had a top-25 finish at a full-field event since the 2020 Farmers Insurance Open.
(Photo: Warren Little / Getty Images)
