Golf legend Tiger Woods, a winner of fifteen major championships, recently had back surgery to replace a disc, marking his latest struggle with injuries. This procedure followed another operation in March for a ruptured left Achilles tendon, which occurred during his home training. Below is a detailed overview of the various injuries Woods has sustained over the course of his illustrious PGA Tour career.
Injury Timeline
October 10, 2025: Back Surgery
On this date, Tiger Woods underwent his seventh back surgery, a lumbar disc replacement, performed in New York. Announcing the news via social media, Woods affirmed it was the correct choice for his health and chronic back issues, though he didn`t specify a recovery timeline. This was his second surgery within the year and his second back procedure in just thirteen months. He explained that doctors identified a collapsed L4/5 disc, fragments, and a compromised spinal canal after he reported significant pain and mobility problems. Woods stated his confidence in choosing the disc replacement.
March 11, 2025: Achilles Tendon Injury
In March 2025, at age 49, Woods had surgery for a ruptured left Achilles tendon, sustained during intensive home training. He shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), stating that Dr. Charlton Stucken at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida, performed a successful minimally invasive repair, with a full recovery anticipated.
September 13, 2024: Back Surgery
September 13, 2024, saw Woods undergo microdecompression surgery on his lower lumbar spine to address nerve impingement. He expressed optimism that the procedure would relieve the chronic back spasms and pain he had endured for most of the 2024 season.
April 19, 2023: Ankle Surgery
On April 19, 2023, Woods had subtalar fusion surgery on his right ankle. The procedure, performed by Dr. Martin O`Malley in New York, aimed to treat post-traumatic arthritis resulting from a talus fracture sustained in a devastating car crash in February 2021. His agent, Mark Steinberg, confirmed the surgery`s success and indicated Woods was beginning his recovery.
April 9, 2023: Withdraws from Masters
Before the final round of the Masters on April 9, 2023, Woods withdrew, citing a re-aggravation of his plantar fasciitis. Weather delays would have required him to play an extended number of holes on Sunday.
February 23, 2021: Injuries from Car Crash
On February 23, 2021, Tiger Woods was involved in a severe single-vehicle accident in Southern California, where his car rolled multiple times, trapping him inside. Emergency surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center addressed significant orthopedic trauma to his lower right leg. Dr. Anish Mahajan reported open fractures to his tibia and fibula, which required a rod insertion, along with screws and pins to repair foot and ankle injuries. Fasciotomy was also performed to alleviate swelling pressure.
December 23, 2021: Another Back Procedure
On December 23, 2021, Woods had his fifth back procedure, a fourth microdiscectomy, aimed at relieving persistent nerve pain in his lower back. Recovery for such a procedure is typically estimated at 2.5 to 3 months.
August 20, 2019: Left Knee Surgery
August 20, 2019, marked Woods` fifth operation on his left knee, an arthroscopic procedure. He later revealed that the knee had been a hindrance all summer and that he had delayed the surgery, expecting to be fit for the Zozo Championship in Japan.
April 20, 2017: Back Surgery
In April 2017, Woods announced a successful back surgery designed to relieve chronic back and leg pain. On his website, he expressed optimism that the procedure would alleviate his spasms and pain, allowing him to return to a normal life, including playing golf professionally and enjoying time with his children pain-free.
February 3, 2017: Back Spasms
Woods withdrew from the Dubai Desert Classic on February 3, 2017, before the second round, due to back spasms. His agent, Mark Steinberg, clarified that this issue was distinct from the nerve problems that had led to three previous surgeries, the last one being in September 2015.
October 28, 2015: Follow-up Back Procedure
On October 28, 2015, approximately a month after his second back surgery in 18 months, Woods underwent a follow-up procedure to alleviate discomfort. Dr. Charles Rich, who performed his two prior surgeries, carried out this additional intervention.
September 16, 2015: Back Surgery Again
September 16, 2015, saw Woods undergo a second microdiscectomy, which ended his 2015 season despite achieving his best finish of the year in August. He had missed the cut in three of the four majors that year and anticipated a return to golf in early 2016.
April 1, 2014: Back Surgery
On April 1, 2014, Woods announced he would miss the Masters due to a microdiscectomy for a pinched nerve that had caused him pain for several months. He returned to competitive golf later that summer at the Quicken Loans National.
March 18, 2014: Back Spasms
Woods withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational on March 18, 2014, due to persistent back pain.
March 2, 2014: Back Issues
On March 2, 2014, Woods withdrew during the final round of the Honda Classic due to back issues.
March 11, 2012: Left Achilles Tendon Injury
Woods withdrew from the WGC-Cadillac Championship`s final round on March 11, 2012, due to an injury to his left Achilles tendon.
May 12, 2011: Knee and Achilles Ailments
On May 12, 2011, Woods withdrew from The Players Championship after nine holes, citing multiple ailments including his knee, Achilles, and calf cramping up. He did not return to play until the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in August 2011.
April 26, 2011: Left MCL Sprain, Strained Left Achilles Tendon
On April 26, 2011, Woods announced he would skip the Wells Fargo Championship after medical evaluation revealed a Grade 1 MCL sprain in his left knee and a mild strain to his left Achilles tendon. These injuries occurred during the third round of the Masters when he executed an awkward shot from the pine straw on the 17th hole, though he finished the tournament.
2010: Neck Injury
In 2010, Woods withdrew from the final round of The Players Championship due to a neck injury, which an MRI later diagnosed as an inflamed facet joint.
2008-09: Torn Right Achilles Tendon
During the 2010 Masters, Woods disclosed that he had initially torn his right Achilles tendon in 2008 and subsequently re-injured it multiple times throughout 2009, continuing to compete despite the damage.
2008: Arthroscopic Knee Surgery and Further Injuries
In 2008, shortly after placing second at the Masters, Woods underwent arthroscopic knee surgery for cartilage cleanup, with a 4-6 week recovery projected. Remarkably, he returned to win the U.S. Open. However, he then had reconstructive surgery on a torn ACL and a double stress fracture in his left tibia (sustained during U.S. Open prep), leading him to miss the rest of the 2008 season.
2007: Ruptured ACL (Left Knee)
After the 2007 British Open, Woods ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during a run at home. Despite the severity, he opted against immediate surgery and proceeded to win five of his subsequent six tournaments.
