Golf legend Tiger Woods underwent his seventh back surgery on Friday, October 10, 2025, after experiencing severe pain and mobility issues that revealed a collapsed disc and compromised spinal canal. The 49-year-old announced the procedure through a statement on social media, marking another significant health setback in his ongoing battle with injuries.
Woods revealed that medical scans determined he had a collapsed disc at the L4/5 level, along with disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal. The lumbar disc replacement surgery was performed by Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi and his team at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, with the procedure deemed successful.
The 15-time major champion indicated that after experiencing the pain and lack of mobility, he consulted with doctors and surgeons to have tests taken. Woods expressed confidence in his decision, stating that he already knew he had made a good choice for his health and back.
This latest surgery represents Woods’ third major procedure in the past 13 months, following a microdecompression operation on his back in September 2024 and surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon in March 2025. The Achilles injury occurred while Woods was ramping up training at home, forcing him to undergo a minimally invasive repair procedure in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Woods’ medical history reveals a long struggle with back problems, beginning with his first back surgery in April 2014 for a pinched nerve. He underwent multiple microdiscectomy procedures between 2014 and 2017, culminating in a spinal fusion surgery in 2017 that many considered a career-ending procedure. However, Woods defied expectations by returning to win the 2018 Tour Championship and the 2019 Masters Tournament, his 15th major championship.
The golfer’s health challenges intensified following a devastating single-vehicle car crash in February 2021 that left him with compound fractures in both legs and nearly resulted in amputation of his right leg. Woods has made only 11 competitive starts on the PGA Tour since that accident, with his last official tournament appearance occurring at The Open Championship in July 2024 at Royal Troon.
Woods’ limited recent activity includes participating in TGL indoor league matches for Jupiter Links GC and playing alongside his 16-year-old son Charlie at the PNC Championship in December 2024, where he was permitted to use a golf cart. His only other planned appearance was at The Genesis Invitational earlier in 2025, but he withdrew following the death of his mother, Kultida Woods, in February.
The timing of this surgery raises significant questions about Woods’ ability to participate in upcoming events. He was notably absent from the initial field announcement for the Hero World Challenge, an event he hosts in the Bahamas scheduled for December 4-7. His participation in this year’s PNC Championship, where he traditionally competes with Charlie, also remains uncertain.
Woods had shown some signs of progress in recent months, posting a video of himself hitting golf balls at the Nexus Cup amateur event in lower Manhattan on September 9. This appearance had sparked hope among fans that he might be trending toward a competitive return during the winter season.
The surgery could also impact Woods’ involvement with TGL, the indoor golf league he helped create. After participating in the league’s inaugural season, Woods may find himself sidelined to start the upcoming season if his recovery extends into January 2026 or beyond.
Woods will turn 50 on December 30, 2025, making him eligible to compete on the PGA Tour Champions beginning next season. However, his limited playing schedule in recent years has caused his world ranking to plummet to outside the top 2,000, a stark contrast to his former status as the world’s number one player.
The golf community responded with support following Woods’ announcement. Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson expressed his sympathy and wished Woods a speedy recovery through social media.
Woods has not provided a specific timeline for his recovery or indicated when he might return to competitive golf. Given the extensive nature of his recent medical procedures and the fact that this marks his seventh back surgery since 2014, questions persist about whether the 82-time PGA Tour winner will be able to mount another comeback at this stage of his career.
