In a surprise announcement on social media, Tiger Woods revealed that he has recently undergone another back surgery. This procedure follows a surgery he had on his ankle for plantar fasciitis just over a year ago.

Tiger Woods announced on X that he recently underwent microdecompression surgery of the lumbar spine to address nerve impingement in his lower back. The procedure was performed by Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach. This is Tiger Woods’ sixth back surgery.

Here’s what Woods’ post read:

“The surgery went smoothly, and l’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.”

Woods will be hoping to get back to the 2025 PGA Tour season next year. He will also be looking to play the Hero World Challenge at the end of this year and the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie Woods.

Tiger Woods’ surgery timeline, including six back surgeries explored

Woods has had a long history with surgeries, including procedures on his ankle, back and knees. His first back surgery happened in 2014, when he experienced lower back spasms. To address the issue, he underwent a microdiscectomy for a pinched nerve in March of that year.

Unfortunately, due to persisting back pain, the American underwent another surgery, a microdiscectomy to remove a disk fragment, in September 2015. In October 2015, he ended up having a follow up surgery to relieve him of any discomfort.

In April 2017, Woods underwent a spinal fusion, marking his fourth back injury. Despite these procedures, his back problems persisted. In 2021, he underwent a fifth back surgery—a microdiscectomy to remove a bone fragment that was pinching a nerve.

Despite all the challenges, the 48-year-old continued to play golf. However, following a season with reduced participation, he decided to undergo his sixth back surgery to prepare for the 2025 season.

In addition to his back surgeries, Woods also recently underwent ankle surgery. After withdrawing from the 2023 Masters, he had a procedure for plantar fasciitis. As a result, he limited his participation in the 2024 season to the major championships.

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Edited by Pratham K Sharma