Tiger Woods undergoes back surgery and posts statement on golf return

The 48-year-old has played five tournaments in 2024 and made the cut only once.

Tiger Woods has competed in only five tournaments this season due to back trouble (Zac Goodwin/PA) (PA Wire)

Tiger Woods has undergone back surgery after an injury-hit 2024 season.

A statement on Woods’ official X account said the 15-time major winner underwent microdepression surgery of the lumbar spine for nerve impingement in the lower back on Friday.

The statement added that Dr Sheeraz Qureshi, of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, performed the surgery and deemed it to be successful.

Woods, who has had several back operations over the past decade, said: “The surgery went smoothly and I’m hopeful it will alleviate the back spasms and the pain I was experiencing throughout most of the 2024 season.

“I look forward to tackling this rehab and preparing to myself to get back to normal life activities, including golf.”

Woods, 48 – who almost lost his right leg in a car crash in 2021 and underwent ankle surgery two years later – has played only five times on the PGA Tour in 2024.

He withdrew from the Genesis Open in Los Angeles in February during the second round before making a record 24th consecutive cut in the Masters in April.

But he shot 82 and 77 over the weekend at Augusta National and made early exits from the US PGA Championship and US Open.

Tiger Woods last played competitive golf at The Open in July (Jane Barlow/PA) (PA Wire)

Woods’ last appearance was at The Open in July, where he equalled his worst number of shots for two rounds at a major.

He shot 79 and 77 at Royal Troon and his 14-over score of 156 was close to being dead last.

Woods later expressed his desire to play next year’s Open at Royal Portrush.