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 The 14-times major champion, who had a similar procedure on his back
in March 2014, hopes to return to competition in early 2016.
"This is certainly disappointing, but I'm a fighter," Woods, 39,
said in a statement on his website. "I've been told I can make a
full recovery, and I have no doubt that I will.
"This is unfortunate, but these things happen. I've been injured
before and played again. It won't be any different this time."
As a result of the microdiscectomy surgery, which was performed in
Park City, Utah on Wednesday, Woods will not be able to compete in
the PGA Tour's Oct. 15-18 Frys.com Open as he had initially planned.
He also was scheduled for two unofficial events, the America's Golf
Cup in Mexico and the Hero World Challenge that he hosts in the
Bahamas.
Woods, who turns 40 in December, last played at the Wyndham
Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina, four weeks ago.
He showed glimpses of his old form, finishing equal 10th, but
appeared to walk with a gingerly gait, something he attributed at
the time to a hip problem.
'OCCASIONAL DISCOMFORT'
According to his website, Woods "felt some occasional discomfort in
the back and hip area the last several weeks, including at the
Wyndham Championship.
"An examination clearly showed that the random discomfort was coming
from his back, and Woods elected to have surgery quickly in order to
return to the PGA Tour as soon as possible.
"Woods will begin intensive rehabilitation and soft tissue treatment
within a week. Healing and recovery times differ for each individual
based on many physiological factors, but Tiger is encouraged he can
return early in 2016."
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Woods kept his plans for surgery under tight wraps. Before Friday,
he had not posted anything on his Twitter account since Sept. 10,
when he wished Arnold Palmer a happy birthday.
On Friday, he announced that he had undergone "successful back
surgery" to remove a small disc fragment that was pinching his
nerve.
However, the latest surgery raises further questions as to whether
the man who spent a record 683 weeks ranked number one in the world
will ever regain his former greatness.
Woods seemed destined to become the most prolific major champion
ever when he captured the 2008 U.S. Open, for his 14th major title,
but he has not added to the list over the ensuing 30 majors.
His hopes of matching the record 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus are
fading with every passing major, as history shows how difficult it
is to win multiple majors once a player gets into his early 40s.
Woods played only 11 official events this year and did not qualify
for the PGA Tour's FedExCup playoffs currently being staged. He is
ranked 283rd in the world.
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Andrew
Both)
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