Legendary United States golfer Tiger Woods has undergone his seventh back surgery in his career. This time, he underwent surgery to replace a disk in his lower back that had caused pain and mobility issues.
Wood, in his social media post, said that he had the surgery in New York. He also stated that it was the right decision for his health and back.
Although it is yet to be confirmed, the time period will keep him out of action. His feature in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas is also uncertain, along with his participation in the PNC Championship with his son.
Both marquee events have been scheduled to kick off in December.
He hasn`t played since a playoff loss in the PNC Championship last year. This marked his second surgery in the year and second back surgery in the last 13 months. Earlier, he had surgery in March after rupturing his left Achilles tendon.
Woods said he consulted doctors and surgeons about experiencing pain and a lack of mobility in his back.
“The scans determined that I had a collapsed disc in L4/5, disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal,” said the golf athlete Saturday.
“I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday, and I already know I made a good decisions for my health and my back,” he added.
The 49-year-old golfer had his first of his seven back surgeries in April 2014, which eventually led to having his lower back fused in 2017. A year later, he won the Tour Championship and then captured his 15th major and fifth green jacket at the 2019 Masters.
Now his back is only part of a body that has been broken over the last five years. Most serious was a car crash in February 2021 that shattered his right leg and ankle, which Woods has said nearly led to a decision to amputate. He managed to return a year later at the 2022 Masters.
Since the car crash, Woods has played only 15 times in the last four years, four of those at the PNC Championship, where he can use a cart for the 36-hole event.
(With AP Inputs)
