Tiger Woods undergoes fifth back surgery, out at least two months
- by Grant Boone
- in Sports
- — Jan 21, 2021
Rory McIlroy knew about Tiger Woods' latest back surgery long before the news was announced.
The year's other majors include the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island in May, the US Open in June at Torrey Pines - where Woods won the 2008 US Open - and the British Open in July at Royal St. George's.
If Tiger Woods is to compete in a golf tournament this year in Southern California, it will have to be the U.S. Open.
"Tiger has recently undergone a microdiscectomy procedure to remove a pressurised disc fragment that was pinching his nerve after experiencing discomfort following the PNC Championship", said a statement posted on Woods' Twitter account.
Woods' doctors say the surgery was a success and he's expected to make a full recovery.
He last underwent surgery on his back - a spinal fusion operation - in 2017.
The following month, Woods won the season-ending Tour Championship and seven months later took the ultimate victory of his astounding comeback by winning the 2019 Masters. He had his first microdisectomy right before the 2014 Masters, and then he had two more in September and October of 2015. He has also had five operations on his left knee.
Woods said after he tied for 38th in his Masters title defense that he has days that are harder than others.
"No matter how hard I try, things just don't work the way they used to, and no matter how much I push and ask of this body, it just doesn't work at times".
"It's going to happen more times than not", he said.
"Granted, I'm a lot older now, so things change, they evolve".
Woods plans to be at Riviera in his role as tournament host.
But his participation in this year's major at Augusta International is in some doubt with the tournament taking place from 8 April.
Were Woods to miss two months, as speculated, he would likely miss The Players Championship, which begins on March 11, and The Honda Classic a week later.
