Tiger Woods underwent lumbar intervertebral surgery on Friday, the fifteen-time major champion announced on X on Saturday.
“After experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back, I consulted doctors and surgeons to have tests performed,” Woods’ statement said. “The scans showed that I had a collapsed intervertebral disc in L4/L5, fragments of the intervertebral disc and a compromised spinal canal. I opted to have my intervertebral disc replaced yesterday and already know that I made a good decision for my health and my back.”
No timetable was provided for Woods to make his return to competitive golf.
Tiger Woods has not played on the PGA Tour this season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in March. Last September, Woods underwent a procedure on his lower back that he described as microdecompression surgery of the lumbar spine for nerve impingement.
The 49-year-old has undergone six previous back surgeries, starting with a microdiscectomy for a pinched nerve in 2014. He underwent a second microdiscectomy in September 2015 and then underwent a follow-up procedure to relieve discomfort in October 2016. He underwent another microdiscectomy in 2017 and then another in 2021. Woods has also undergone numerous surgeries on his legs, both before like after a car accident.
Woods made just five starts in 2024. His only success came at the 2024 Masters. He missed the cut at the other three majors, but did play in the PNC Championship with his son Charlie and in TGL before suffering the Achilles injury in March.
Josh Schrock
Golf.com editor
Josh Schrock is a writer and reporter for Golf.com. Before joining GOLF, Josh was the Chicago Bears insider for NBC Sports Chicago. He previously covered the 49ers and Warriors for NBC Sports Bay Area. Josh, a native Oregonian and UO alum, spends his free time walking with his wife and dog, thinking about how the Ducks will break his heart again, and trying to become semi-proficient at chipping. A true golf enthusiast, Josh will never stop trying to hit 90 and will never lose faith that Rory McIlroy’s great drought will end (updated: he did it). Josh Schrock can be reached at josh.schrock@golf.com.
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