Tiger Woods recently announced that he will be taking a break from golf following a back surgery he underwent in October. This surgery marked the seventh procedure Woods has had on his back, in addition to three other major surgeries on his Achilles and ankle in the past two years.
Despite winning the Masters in 2019, ending an 11-year Major drought, Woods has been struggling with injuries that have impacted his competitiveness in the sport. While he managed to host his annual Hero World Challenge tournament in the Bahamas, he acknowledged that a significant recovery period lies ahead before he can return to playing regularly.
Reflecting on his journey to recovery, Woods humorously mentioned playing in numerous events across tours, but later emphasized the importance of regaining his playing form before committing to a specific schedule. He shared that he had recently been cleared to chip and putt, highlighting the slow progress due to the nature of his latest disc replacement surgery.
One of Woods’ main driving forces for a potential comeback is the chance to break the PGA record for all-time tournament wins, currently tied with Sam Snead at 82 victories. Notah Begay III, a close friend of Woods, noted that the physical challenge of walking the course post-surgeries poses a significant hurdle for the golf icon’s return to the sport.