Tiger Woods undergoes sixth back operation following injury-hit 2024 in latest setback to golf legend’s career

Golf legend Tiger Woods has announced his latest injury setback after revealing he has undergone back surgery.

It is the sixth back operation of the 48-year-old’s career, with the American suffering from yet another injury-hit season.

The 15-time Major winner announced in July that he was to take a five-month break after missing the cut at the Open Championship.

He also failed to make the cut at the US Open and PGA Championship, though did play all four rounds at The Masters.

For Woods, he is now set for some time away from the game to rest and recover after struggling with back spasms in 2024.

Though he has insisted he is not thinking about retirement.

A statement from Woods’ X account read: “Earlier this morning Tiger underwent microdecompression surgery of the lumbar spine for nerve impingement in the lower back.

“Dr Sheeraz Qureshi of Hospital For Special Surgery in West Palm Beach perform the surgery deemed it to be successful.”

Woods then shared his thoughts on the procedure, where he vowed he is already gearing up to return to the course.

He stated: “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 get back to normal life activities, including golf.”

As it stands, it remains unclear whether he will be fit in time to compete in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, an event which he hosts.

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And he could also miss the PNC Championship in December, where he would play alongside son Charlie.

Woods’ season started at the Genesis Invitational in February, where he was forced to withdraw through illness in the second round.

It’s been a tough few years for Woods since his near-fatal car accident in February 2021.

He almost lost his right leg in the incident, before returning to the course less than a year later later.

Woods then underwent subtalar fusion procedure on his right foot, which saw him absent for the majority of the PGA Tour season in 2023.

And setbacks this year have seen him play just five times on the PGA Tour in 2024.