Tiger Woods Undergoes Sixth Back Surgery

Tiger Woods, the 15-time Major champion, has announced that he recently underwent back surgery to address persistent back spasms. The news was shared via his social media platforms on Friday, with a statement confirming that he had microdecompression surgery on his lumbar spine to alleviate nerve impingement in his lower back.

The surgery, performed by Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, was deemed successful. Woods expressed optimism in his statement, saying: “The surgery went smoothly, and 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 return to normal life activities, including golf.”

This marks the sixth back surgery of Woods’ career, coming after a difficult season where his opportunities to compete were limited. His first competitive appearance of the year took place at February’s Genesis Invitational, but he withdrew during the second round due to flu-like symptoms. However, back spasms had already surfaced earlier in the tournament, impacting his play. Reflecting on the issue, Woods said, “Because my back’s fused, that’s just part of my body, that’s part of what it is. I accept it and accept the challenges.”

Woods also competed at The Masters, making the cut, but struggled in the other three Majors— the PGA Championship, the US Open, and The Open—where he failed to reach the weekend rounds. While he showed few signs of the ankle injury that required surgery after the 2023 Masters, it seems his ongoing back issues played a significant role in limiting his performance.

There is currently no word on whether Woods will be fit to participate in the Hero World Challenge, which he hosts, or the PNC Championship, where he typically competes alongside his son Charlie. Both events are scheduled for December.