Tiger Woods announces he’s undergone surgery but already has comeback date in sight

Tiger Woods seemingly won’t be returning to the golf course any time soon, having undergone a sixth back surgery in Florida after a disappointing 2024 season plagued with injuries“The surgery went smoothly, and I’m hopeful this will help alleviate the back spasms and pain I was experiencing throughout most of the 2024 season,” Woods said in a statement posted to his X account. “I look forward to tackling this rehab and preparing myself to get back to normal life activities, including golf.”Woods has been dealing with back issues throughout the year. His season began with a withdrawal at the Genesis Invitational, and he only played in major championships from there out, despite previously predicting he’d play an average of a tournament per month.The mere fact Woods is still playing is something of a miracle, having nearly lost his leg in a devastating car crash back in 2021. The golfer’s car crossed the opposite lane, crashed into a curb and flipped upside down while smashing into the grassy curbside. After a lengthy recovery, Woods initially returned for the 2022 Masters, but finished 47th. He would then either not enter or miss the cut at every major championship until the Masters this year.Despite Woods’ confidence ahead of the year, Woods admitted at Troon that he may have bitten off more than he could chew. Speaking to reporters after missing the cut, the American said: “Hopefully next year will be a little bit better than this year.He elaborated: “I thought I could play a little bit more earlier in the year. I think I was a little bit too optimistic. I need to do a lot more work in the gym and keep progressing like we have,” he commented. “I’m physically feeling a lot better than I did at the beginning of the year.”At the end of last year, it was tough, and I haven’t played a whole lot. I think that, as the year has gone on, I have gotten better. I just wish I could have played a little bit more, but I’ve been saving it for the majors just in case I do something pretty major and then take myself out of it.”