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Tiger Woods Announces He Underwent Back Surgery for Nerve Injury

Doric Sam

Legendary golfer Tiger Woods underwent a procedure on Friday that he hopes will improve his chances to be successful on the PGA Tour next season.

Woods announced that he underwent microdecompression surgery of the lumbar spine to address a nerve impingement in his lower back. Woods added that he is "hopeful this will help alleviate the back spasms and pain I was experiencing throughout most of the 2024 season" and he is "preparing myself to get back to normal life activities, including golf."

This marks Woods' sixth publicly announced back surgery and his first since 2021, the same year that he suffered devastating injuries in a car accident. He also underwent a subtalar fusion procedure on his right foot that cost him the majority of the 2023 season.

Woods hasn't made a start since he missed the cut at the Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland in July. He said afterward that he intends to return to action at the Hero World Challenge, a tournament hosted by him and set for Dec. 5-8 in the Bahamas. He also announced intentions to play in the PNC Championship alongside his son Charlie on Dec. 19-22. However, Friday's announcement didn't include an official timetable for his return.

The 2024 season was not kind to the 15-time major champion. Woods opened the year at the Genesis Invitational in February but was forced to withdraw in the second round due to an illness. After choosing to only play in major tournaments, he missed the cut at the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship in addition to the Open Championship. He played all four rounds at the Masters Tournament and placed 60th.

Woods is still searching for the perfect way to end his legendary career, so hopefully this latest procedure gets him a step closer to achieving that goal.

   

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