Tiger Woods hit with another injury setback – but how long will he be out for?

Tiger Woods has undergone yet another surgery, so when can we expect to see him back? Here’s what we know so far…

When will Tiger Woods play next? While we’re not sure we can answer that question comprehensibly, we can certainly have a pretty good guess.

The GOAT remains golf’s biggest draw, but given his limited playing schedule, there are not so many opportunities to see the 15-time major champion in action.

JUMP TO: Tiger Woods schedule

The 49-year-old has been forced to revert to a part-time playing schedule since an almost fatal car crash in February 2021, revealing that he requires “a cold plunge, every day, religiously” just to prepare his body for playing even just once a month.

In 2024, he played just 11 competitive rounds – withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational, before making a record-breaking 24th consecutive cut at Augusta National and then failing to get to the weekend in the other three majors.

After finishing 14-over-par at Royal Troon, Woods confirmed he would be at Portrush the following year, insisting: “I’ll play as long as I can play and I feel like I can still win the event.”

As it turns out, that was the last time we saw him in competitive action.

And the start of 2025 had been so promising, too.

Woods was awarded a ‘Lifetime Achievement Exemption’ by the PGA Tour, meaning he can tee it up at the eight limited-field Signature Events as he wishes, and he was an active member of the Jupiter Links team during the inaugural TGL season.

But then, as he ramped up his training in a bid to be fit for the Masters, he ruptured his Achilles. That ruled him out for at least the remainder of the PGA Tour season, with faint hopes that he might play in either or both of the PNC Championship and Hero World Challenge.

Now, though, Woods has once again suffered another setback.

“After experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back, I consulted with doctors and surgeons to have tests taken,” Woods wrote in a statement.

“The scans determined that I had a collapsed disc in L4/5, disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal. I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday, and I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back.”

Woods underwent lumbar disc replacement surgery on October 10, and was deemed successful.

Recovery time is expected to be anything from six to 12 weeks, which will almost certainly rule Woods out of the PGA Tour’s “silly season”, but he might be back in time for the new TGL season.

And if he’s not playing, he’ll certainly be there.

Replying to a post from Jupiter Links Golf Club’s X account, Woods wrote: “I’ll be there for every match! Looking forward to seeing everyone on January 13th for our home opener.”

Will he have his clubs? Guess we’ll find out in the New Year…

Tiger Woods schedule

There are no events on Woods upcoming schedule.

Exemptions

Tiger Woods enjoys lifetime exemption into the Masters and PGA Championship, while The Open allows its champions to compete up to the age of 60. However, his US Open exemption expired in 2023, and he competed at Pinehurst in 2024 thanks to a USGA invite.

In 2024, Woods was also granted a ‘Lifetime Achievement Exemption’ by the PGA Tour, permitting him a place in the field for all Signature Events.

Tiger Woods’ most recent results