Tiger Woods Opens Up About Seventh Back Surgery And Heartbreaking Loss In Socal

Tiger Woods’ Latest Health Battle: Seventh Back Surgery in the Books

Hey, SoCal sports fam, Tiger Woods is back in the headlines, but not for sinking putts on the lush greens of Pebble Beach. The golf icon just underwent his seventh back surgery - a lumbar disc replacement - and he’s already vibin’ with the recovery. Taking to X, Tiger dropped an update straight from the heart of his struggle, letting fans know he’s on the mend after dealing with some serious pain and mobility issues in his back.

After consulting with top docs and getting scans done, the diagnosis was rough: a collapsed disc at L4/5, fragments, and a compromised spinal canal. But Tiger, ever the champ, made the call to get that disc replaced, and he’s feeling optimistic. The procedure went down at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York under the skilled hands of Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi, just months after he battled a ruptured Achilles tendon back in March.

This ain’t Tiger’s first rodeo with surgeries - the man’s had seven on his back alone over the past 11 years. From a microdiscectomy for a pinched nerve in 2014 to multiple follow-ups, and a micro decompression surgery in September 2024 for nerve impingement, he’s been through the wringer. But with that classic Cali resilience, he’s looking ahead to rehab and getting back to swinging clubs.

Personal Loss Hits Hard: Saying Goodbye to Mom Kultida

While Tiger’s body is on the mend, his heart took a heavy hit this year. In February 2025, he shared the devastating news of his mom, Kultida Woods, passing away. Dropping the news on X with raw emotion, Tiger called her a ‘force of nature’ and his biggest cheerleader, crediting her for every personal win he’s ever had - and we all know there are plenty of those.

‘She was my rock, my biggest fan, and the one who made everything possible for me. I’m gonna miss her quick wit and that laugh every day,’ Tiger shared, reflecting on Kultida’s unbreakable spirit.

Kultida’s passing led Tiger to pull out of the Genesis Invitational, a comeback he’d been hyping up. Her spirit lives on through her grandkids, Sam and Charlie, who she adored. Tiger asked for privacy during this tough time, and us West Coast folks get it - family comes first, even for a legend.

From SoCal Crash to Slow Comeback: Tiger’s Rough Road

Let’s rewind to one of the darkest chapters in Tiger’s story - that brutal car crash in February 2021 right here in Southern California. His vehicle rolled multiple times, landing him in emergency surgery with a rod in his right leg and screws and pins in his foot and ankle. He spent three weeks in the hospital, even facing the terrifying possibility of losing his leg altogether.

Recalling that moment to Golf Digest, Tiger admitted it was a close call - nearly a 50/50 shot of leaving the hospital with just one leg. That kind of trauma would shake anyone, even a golfing GOAT. It’s no surprise his appearances on the green have been scarce, with his only 2025 showing at the TGL indoor competition.

But if there’s one thing we know about Tiger, it’s that he’s got that LA hustle - the kind of grind you see on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. From health battles to personal loss, he’s facing it all with grit. We’re rooting for you, Tiger, to get back to crushing it on the course, SoCal style.