Tiger Woods to miss Farmers Insurance Open and Genesis Invitational event after undergoing further surgery on his back; Woods: “I look forward to begin training and am focused on getting back out on Tour.”
Tiger Woods will miss next week’s Farmers Insurance Open and will be a non-playing host at the Genesis Invitational after undergoing another operation on his back.
As well as the Farmers – which gets underway in San Diego on January 28 – Woods will also sit out the Genesis Invitational event, a tournament he hosts and which benefits his charitable foundation.
The 45-year-old complained of feeling pain in his back during last month’s PNC Championship, where he competed alongside his son, Charlie, and he has now had surgery to remove a pressurised disc fragment.
Woods will now need a few weeks of rehabilitation before returning to competitive action, which could be the relocated World Golf Championship at The Concession in Sarasota, Florida.
A statement published on the American’s social media channels read: “Tiger has recently undergone a microdiscectomy procedure to remove a pressurised disc fragment that was pinching his nerve after experience discomfort following the PNC Championship.
“His doctors and their team have determined it to be successful and expect him to make a full recovery.”
Woods said: “I look forward to beginning training and am focused on getting back out on Tour.”
The 15-time major champion struggled following the return of tournament golf following the coronavirus shutdown last year, playing in only seven events and failing to post a top-10 finish as he slipped to 44th in the world rankings.
His latest injury setback also hampers his chances of qualifying for the US Ryder Cup team in September, although he would be assured of a captain’s pick from Steve Stricker if Woods showed any signs of encouraging form and fitness ahead of the September contest at Whistling Straits.
Woods feared for his career four years ago after he pulled out of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic prior to his second round, and he could not even attend his press conference at the Genesis Invitational after suffering further back spasms.
He also missed the Florida Swing and the Masters, after which it was revealed that he had undergone major spinal fusion surgery which kept him out of action until he hosted the Hero World Challenge in November.
Woods finally returned to the winner’s circle in August the following year, capturing the Tour Championship amid incredible scenes at East Lake in Atlanta, and he went on to win his first major for 11 years at the Masters in April 2019.
He then equalled Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour victories when he won the inaugural Zozo Championship in October, but his tie for ninth at last year’s Farmers Insurance Open remains his most recent top-10 finish.
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