It is, unfortunately, the never-ending story. Tiger Woods has again undergone a new surgery, the fourth in recent years, to try to end the back pain that prevents him from developing the talent that made him the best golfer of the last two decades.
“The surgery went well and I am optimistic that this will relieve my back spasms and pain,” said Woods via his website, who has not played since he dropped out of the Dubai Desert Classic last Feb. 3 because of back pain.
Woods first underwent back surgery shortly before the 2014 Masters and then two more surgeries after the 2015 PGA Tour season, when he was sidelined from golf for more than a year.
“The typical recovery time after the latter procedure is about six months,” he said.
That schedule would mean missing the rest of this PGA Tour season and the Presidents Cup.
“When healthy, I look forward to returning to a normal life, playing with my children, competing in professional golf and living without the pain I’ve been struggling with for so long,” Woods said on his website.
The announcement comes two days after Woods said his back was “progressing” in a brief question session at the end of an event in Missouri to announce a new golf course he designed.
The winner of 14 Grand Slam tournaments hit two shots in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
Now, according to his website, Woods will rest for several weeks and then begin therapy and treatment.
“Although each procedure and each case is unique, patients generally return to full activity in approximately six months,” notes the note on Woods’ website.
The surgical procedure performed was a minimally invasive Anterior Lumbar Interactive Anterior Lumbar Fusion, aimed at relieving pressure on the nerve that produced sciatica and severe back and leg pain.
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