Tiger Woods is recovering from lumbar disc replacement surgery performed in October 2025. Providing an update on Woods’ recovery, Alex Perry posted on X, quoting Woods directly:

“I'm moving up to short irons, that's about it. I need a little bit more to play. I'm progressing, I'm getting stronger. It's just one of those things where it takes so much time to heal.”

Woods underwent his seventh back surgery on October 10. The operation marked his second surgery of 2025, following a procedure in March to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon. 

This was also his second back surgery in 13 months, highlighting his continued medical setbacks. Even before that, between 2014 and 2017, he had six issues with his bag. It reflected clearly with the lack of majors for Woods during this time.

His update comes just three months before the Masters, scheduled for April 9-12, 2026, at Augusta National.

Tiger Woods holds a lifetime exemption to The Masters as a past champion, which allows him to compete whenever he is physically able.

But the Path to Playing Again Won't Be Simple for Tiger Woods'

The last time we saw Tiger Woods play a competitive tour event was The Open in 2024. Even Woods acknowledged it would take time to regain his swing.

"I will be very rusty. And so there's a lot that goes into it, so my prep is going to have to be a little bit different from my other procedures I've had in the past. I've had to stay a lot more patient with myself. I get sore faster, I guess because I'm 50. And that happens."

Which tournament would you most like to see Tiger Woods compete in next?

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar