Tiger Woods has long been hailed as one of the greatest golfers of all time, with 82 PGA Tour titles and 15 major championships to his name.
Yet, behind the scenes of his glittering career lies a history of injuries and surgeries that would have derailed most athletes. Woods has endured numerous setbacks, yet his determination to continue competing remains steadfast.
But how many surgeries in total has the golfing legend undergone to keep himself in contention?
Early struggles with injury
Woods’ struggles with injury date back to 1994 when, at just 18 years old, he underwent surgery to remove benign tumors and scar tissue from his left knee.
This forced him to withdraw from the U.S. Amateur Open, marking the beginning of a career defined as much by perseverance as by his unparalleled success on the golf course.
In 2002, Woods had fluid removed from the same knee, signaling the start of recurring knee issues that would follow him throughout his career.
In 2008, he endured cartilage repair surgery and stress fractures in his left tibia, but the ultimate blow came later that year when he played and won the U.S. Open despite a double-stress fracture.
Following his victory, Woods required reconstructive surgery and missed the remainder of the season.
Knees, achilles, and ankle problems
In 2010, Woods withdrew from the PLAYERS Championship due to neck pain, and in 2011, he sprained his MCL and Achilles, forcing him out for several months.
These injuries added to the growing list of physical challenges Woods faced as he continued to play through pain.
By 2012, Woods was dealing with ligament injuries, and in the years that followed, his health problems mounted.
His back became a major issue in 2014, when he had his first surgery to repair a pinched nerve.
Unfortunately, this was the beginning of a chronic back problem that would eventually require multiple surgeries.
The back problems begin
Woods’ back issues continued in 2015 when he underwent a second microdiscectomy surgery. This was followed by another procedure in 2017: spinal fusion surgery.
By this point, Woods had undergone four back surgeries, and his future in the sport was uncertain.
The 2021 car accident
In 2021, Woods’ career faced its most serious threat yet. A devastating car accident in California left him with severe injuries to his right leg and ankle.
He underwent emergency surgery to stabilize his tibia and ankle with rods, screws, and pins. The recovery was long and arduous, casting doubt on whether he would ever return to competitive golf.
In 2023, Woods required another ankle surgery, stemming from complications related to his 2021 car accident.
Most recently, Woods confirmed yet another back surgery, which he hopes will finally relieve the pain and spasms that plagued him throughout the 2024 season.
Despite the staggering number of surgeries and the pain that has accompanied his career, Tiger Woods remains a legend on the greens.
His ability to continually bounce back from injury has cemented his status as one of the most resilient athletes in sports history.
Tiger Woods undergoes surgery for Achilles tendon in 2025
Woods announced on Tuesday March 11, 2025, that he underwent surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles that tore when he was practicing at home
“As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home,” Woods wrote. “I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured.
This morning, Dr. Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida performed a minimally-invasive Achilles tendon repair for a ruptured tendon. “The surgery went smoothly, and we expect a full recovery,” added Dr. Stucken.
I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab, thank you for all the support.”
Woods has not played on the PGA Tour this year, and he’s now set to be out indefinitely. Arguably the greatest golfer of all time, it won’t be easy for him to return from a torn Achilles at this stage in his career, but he will focus on his recovery before determining when he will compete again.
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