Tiger Woods, one of the most accomplished golfers in history with 15 major championships, has endured a relentless series of injuries and surgeries that have repeatedly threatened his career and contributed to the chronic pain he manages daily.

From early knee issues in his college days to multiple back procedures, a devastating 2021 car crash, and more recent setbacks, Woods’ body has been under constant strain from the repetitive demands of elite-level golf combined with high-impact trauma.

Early Career Knee Problems (1990s–2000s)

• 1994: Woods’ injury troubles began before he turned professional. In December 1994, as a Stanford freshman, he underwent surgery to remove two benign tumors and scar tissue from his left knee.
• 2002: In December 2002, he had another left knee procedure to drain fluid from around the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and remove benign cysts. He returned quickly and won the Buick Invitational — the first of five wins on the 2023 season.
• 2007: The left knee issues escalated dramatically in 2007. Woods ruptured his left ACL in July 2007 while running at home but played through it. The next month, in August 2007, Woods would win his 13th major title at the PGA Championship.
• 2008: Following a runner-up finish at the 2008 Masters, in April 2008, Woods had arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage. Two months later, in June, Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines on a torn ACL and with double stress fractures in his left tibia. After his 14th major win, Woods underwent reconstructive ACL surgery using a tendon from his right thigh, plus additional cartilage repair. This sidelined him for nearly nine months.

Back Pain and Multiple Surgeries (2010s–2020s)

Lower back problems became a defining feature of Woods’ later career, often causing leg pain due to nerve involvement. Issues surfaced prominently around 2010–2014 with bulging discs and spasms.

• 2011: Due to leg injuries (sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) and strained left Achilles tendon) incurred at the 2011 Masters, he missed several months on the PGA Tour, including two majors.
• 2014: After a slow start to 2014, Woods sustained a back injury during the final round of The Honda Classic and was unable to finish the tournament. He withdrew after the 13th hole, citing back pain. Woods underwent his first microdiscectomy surgery to address a pinched nerve. He missed his first Masters since 1994.
• 2015: In February 2015, Woods withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open after another back injury. Woods would struggle most of the 2015 season and eventually succumbed to two back surgeries: September and December 2015.
• 2016: Woods missed almost the entire 2016 season, including all four majors, while rehabbing from back surgery and the pain.
• 2017: Woods’ back problems continued to hinder him in 2017. He missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open in January and pulled out of a European Tour event in Dubai in early February. On March 31, Woods announced that he would not be playing in the 2017 Masters Tournament. On April 20, Woods announced that he had undergone his fourth back surgery since 2014 to alleviate back and leg pain. The fourth surgery — an anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) — which proved transformative. Woods credited it with relieving back and leg pain, paving the way for his remarkable 2019 Masters victory.
• 2019: Following his miraculous Masters victory in April, Woods struggled for the remainder of the season. Additional knee work occurred along the way: a fifth left knee arthroscopic procedure in August 2019 to repair minor cartilage damage was required.
• 2021: Woods underwent a fifth back surgery (microdiscectomy) to remove a bone fragment pinching a nerve, just before the 2021 car crash.
• 2024: A sixth back surgery (microdecompression) was required for nerve impingement.
• 2025: Woods underwent a seventh back surgery — a lumbar disc replacement at L4/5 to address a collapsed disc, fragments, and compromised spinal canal. Woods described ongoing soreness and variable “good days and bad days” in recovery.

These back issues often forced withdrawals or limited practice and contributed significantly to the “tremendous physical pressure” and daily pain referenced by supporters like President Trump.

The 2021 Car Crash and Its Aftermath

• February 23, 2021: Woods suffered a severe single-vehicle rollover crash in California while driving at high speed. He sustained comminuted open fractures to his right tibia and fibula (bones breaking through the skin), plus major trauma to his right ankle and foot.
  • Doctors inserted a rod into the tibia and screws/pins into the foot and ankle; some reports indicated amputation was considered. Woods later called the pain “more painful than anything I have ever experienced” and said he was lucky to keep his leg.
  • The crash effectively ended his days as a full-time competitor. Recovery took over a year, with a limited return at the 2022 Masters (T47).

Ankle and Achilles Setbacks (2023–2025)

• April 2023: Subtalar fusion surgery on the right ankle to address post-traumatic arthritis stemming from the 2021 crash injuries. This caused him to withdraw from the 2023 Masters.
• March 2025: Ruptured left Achilles tendon while ramping up training and practice at home. He underwent surgery shortly afterward, missing the 2025 Masters and much of the season.

As of early 2026, Woods had not competed in a full PGA Tour event since the 2024 Open Championship. He has spoken about the challenges of recovering from the latest disc replacement, noting his body no longer “bounces back” as it once did.

Connection to Pain Management and Recent Events

Woods has long dealt with chronic pain from these accumulated injuries, particularly in his back and legs. He has openly discussed taking prescription medications, including opioids like hydrocodone, for pain relief.

In the context of his March 2026 single-vehicle rollover crash and subsequent DUI arrest in Florida, authorities found two hydrocodone pills in his pocket; he told officers he takes “a few” prescription medications.

This history underscores the physical toll Woods has paid. Despite the setbacks, his comebacks — most famously the 2019 Masters win after spinal fusion — highlight extraordinary resilience. At age 50, with more than a dozen surgeries (estimates range from 10–13+ across knees, back, ankle, Achilles, and related procedures), Woods continues to navigate “good days and bad days” while fans and figures like President Trump emphasize the hidden “life of pain” behind his public achievements.

Woods’ journey illustrates both the brutal demands of professional sports and the human cost of pushing the body to its limits over decades.