Tiger Woods underwent his seventh back surgery on Friday, this time to replace a disc in his lower back that was causing pain and limited mobility.
Woods posted on social media on Saturday that he underwent surgery in New York, adding that it was the right decision for his health and problematic back.
He didn’t mention how long it would take him away from golf, but it’s unclear whether he wants to compete in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas or the PNC Championship with his son Charlie. Both competitions are held in December.
He hasn’t played in a game since last year’s PNC Championship playoff loss.
It was his second surgery this year — he had surgery after rupturing his left Achilles tendon in March — and his second back surgery in the past 13 months.
Woods said he consulted doctors and surgeons after experiencing back pain and a lack of mobility.
“Scans determined that I had a collapsed L4/5 disc, disc fragments, and spinal canal damage,” Woods wrote in a post on Saturday. “I chose to have my disc replaced yesterday and I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back.”
Woods underwent the first of seven back surgeries in April 2014, culminating in a lumbar fusion in 2017. A year later, he won the Tour title and earned his 15th major and fifth green jacket at the 2019 Masters.
In February 2021, he was involved in a car accident and fractured his right leg and ankle, which Woods said nearly led to amputation.
He returned a year later at the 2022 Masters.
Since the crash, Woods has played just 15 tournaments in the past four years, four of which were at the PNC Championship, where he was able to use a golf cart for 36 holes.
