Tiger Woods has announced he's undergone another back surgery, and though it may impact his immediate future within the sport, he's expected to return in January.
The five-time Masters champion endured a tough 2024 season and was plagued by injuries throughout, coupled with a lack of activity. He announced in July that he wouldn't play again for the rest of the year, having failed to make the cut at the Open Championship - as he did at the US Open and PGA Championship .
Woods had declared he intended to return to the course in December for the Hero World Challenge and PNC Championship, but this announcement throws both of those into extreme doubt. However, according to Sports Business Journal , Woods is expected to return in time to play in The Golf League (TGL) - his and Rory McIlroy's LIV Golf rival.
“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,” Woods said in a statement posted to his X account. “I look forward to tackling this rehab and preparing myself to get back to normal life activities, including golf.”
Woods has been dealing with back issues throughout the year. His season began with a withdrawal at the Genesis Invitational, and he only played in major championships from there out, despite previously predicting he'd play an average of a tournament per month.
The mere fact Woods is still playing is something of a miracle, having nearly lost his leg in a devastating car crash back in 2021. The golfer's car crossed the opposite lane, crashed into a curb and flipped upside down while smashing into the grassy curbside. After a lengthy recovery, Woods initially returned for the 2022 Masters, but finished 47th. He would then either not enter or miss the cut at every major championship until the Masters this year.
Despite Woods' confidence ahead of the year, Woods admitted at Troon that he may have bitten off more than he could chew. Speaking to reporters after missing the cut, the American said: "Hopefully next year will be a little bit better than this year.
He elaborated: "I thought I could play a little bit more earlier in the year. I think I was a little bit too optimistic. I need to do a lot more work in the gym and keep progressing like we have," he commented. "I'm physically feeling a lot better than I did at the beginning of the year.
"At the end of last year, it was tough, and I haven't played a whole lot. I think that, as the year has gone on, I have gotten better. I just wish I could have played a little bit more, but I've been saving it for the majors just in case I do something pretty major and then take myself out of it."
Woods' game had deteriorated to the point where fellow professionals were advising him to retire, with Colin Montgomerie notably urging him to call it a day. But Woods himself had no desire to walk away, responding to Montgomerie: "Well, as a past champion, I'm exempt [at the Open] I'm 60. Colin is not.
"He is not a past champion, so he's not exempt. So he doesn't get the opportunity to make that decision. I do. So when I get to his age, I get to still make that decision, where he doesn't."
Woods has always rallied against the idea of retirement, but said earlier in the summer: "As far as my last Open Championship or US Open Championship, I don't know what that is. It may or may not be."
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