One day after saying his back was progressing, Tiger Woods had a fourth back surgery to alleviate pain and will go through another year without playing a major.
The surgery was Wednesday at the Texas Back Institute.
Woods was in Missouri on Tuesday to announce plans to design a public golf course at Big Cedar Lodge, and he even tried hitting a few shots to a par three. The first one rattled around in the rocks, and the second shot was about 10 feet from the flag.
Asked about his health during the ceremony, Woods said he had good days and bad days. And then he flew to Dallas for fusion surgery to create space in his lower back.
The announcement on his website Thursday said typical recovery from a single-level fusion surgery is six months.
“The surgery went well, and I’m optimistic this will relieve my back spasms and pain,” Woods said. “When healed, I look forward to getting back to a normal life, playing with my kids, competing in professional golf and living without the pain I have been battling so long.”
The 41-year-old Woods first had back surgery — a microdiscectomy — a week before the 2014 Masters, and he tried to return in three months. He sat out three months at the end of 2014 to let his body fully heal.
But after a 2015 season in which he missed the cut in three majors, he had back surgery in September and another one in October.
He went 15 months without competition before returning in December at his Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, where Woods made 24 birdies in 72 holes and swung freely.
But then he missed the cut at Torrey Pines in January, and he withdrew from the Dubai Desert Classic on Feb. 3 after opening with a 77, citing back spasms.
And now he’s gone through a fourth surgery.
“You see him in the Bahamas, and he looked pretty good,” said Mark Steinberg, his agent at Excel Sports Management. “And then you see him in Dubai. It can happen any time. You heard him say two days ago, ‘I have good days and bad days.’ This surgery, we hope, eliminates the bad days.”
Questions about the 14-time major champion have shifted from if he will win another major to if he will play another major.
The statement on his website said Woods’ bottom disk in his lower back has severely narrowed, causing sciatica and severe pain in his back and legs. Woods opted for a fourth surgery when more conservative therapy, such as rest and injections, failed to solve anything.
“He had consulted with a number of top people that had recommended this was the way to go if he wanted a clear and final path,” Steinberg said. “Everything he had done in the past was a temporary fix, so to speak. At that point, they thought there were other alternatives than fusion.”
Steinberg said they were advised fusion surgery was the best option if Woods wanted an active lifestyle and was willing to sit out the rest of the season.
“He should be better than he’s been in the past five years,” Steinberg said. “He’s pretty encouraged.”
The surgery was described as “anterior lumbar interbody fusion” at the L-5 and S-1 of his spine. It was performed by Richard Guyer of the institute’s Center for Disk Replacement, and involved removing the damaged disk and lifting the collapsed disk space to normal levels.
“After he recovers from surgery, he will gradually begin his rehabilitation until he is completely healed,” Guyer said on the website. “Once that’s accomplished, his workouts will be geared to allowing him to return to competitive golf.”
Guyer said the bottom of the spine is the best place for single-level fusion to occur.
Woods’ first surgery in 2014 was in Park City, Utah, by neurosurgeon Charles Rich, who also did the second operation. This is the first time Woods has gone to the Texas Back Institute.
Woods was to begin therapy and treatment after several weeks of rest.
He won his 79th PGA Tour event in August 2013 at the Bridgestone Invitational. Three weeks later, he was in contention late in the final round at the Barclays when he dropped to his knees after experiencing what he described as back spasms.
Woods is exempt for life at the Masters and PGA Championship, and until he is 60 at the British Open. He has a 10-year exemption for the U.S. Open from his 2008 victory at Torrey Pines, which was his 14th and last major. He had reconstructive knee surgery a week later.
He has started just 19 events worldwide since that first back surgery, and he has completed 72 holes in nine of them. His best finish was a tie for 10th in the Wyndham Championship in August 2015, a month before his second back surgery. With so many injuries and inactivity, Woods now is No. 788 in the world ranking.
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Tiger Woods hits off the second tee during the 2014 Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron Ohio. Woods is one of the most decorated golfers in history with more than 100 career wins and 14 major victories. (Sam Greenwood / Getty Images)
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A 17-year-old Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during the Pro-Am portion Los Angeles Open at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. Woods made his PGA Tour debut at Riviera. (Bob Galbraith / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods speaks with his father, Earl Woods, during the 1995 U.S. Amatuer Championships at Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island. (J.D. Cuban / Allsport)
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U.S. Amateur Champion Tiger Woods, left, talks with Greg Norman during a practice round for the 1995 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. (Dave Martin / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods, a sophomore at Stanford, competes at the 1996 NCAA men’s golf championships in Ooltewah, Tenn. Woods went on to win the NCAA title for the second consecutive year. (Mark Humphrey / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods hugs his his father, Earl, after winning the 1997 Masters with a record-breaking 18-under-par for the tournament. (Dave Martin / Associated Press)
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Nick Faldo helps Tiger Woods put on the green jacket following Woods’ victory at the 1997 Masters. (Stephen Munday / Allsport)
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Tiger Woods pumps his fist after sinking his final putt to win the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. Woods finished 11-under-par in the tournament. (Roberto Schmidt / AFP/Getty Images)
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Tiger Woods celebrates a birdie putt made by teammate Notah Begay III during the second round of the 2000 Presidents Cup in Gainesville, Va. (Daniel Hulshizer / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods celebrates after winning the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links. It was his third victory at a major tournament. (Matt York / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods, left, and baseball player Alex Rodriguez watch Florida State play Oklahoma during the 2001 Orange Bowl. (Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods is helped into his winner’s jacket by golfing great Arnold Palmer after taking a victory at the 2001 Bay Hill Invitational in Orlando, Fla.
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Tiger Woods lines up a putt on the 14th hole during the final round of 2001 The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Woods won the tournament for the first time with a 14-under 274. (Phil Coale / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods smiles and acknowledges the cheers of the crowd after winning the Masters for the second time in 2001. (Amy Sancetta / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods tees off during a practice round for the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. (Craig Jones / Getty Images)
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Tiger Woods celebrates on the 18th green after winning the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP/Getty Images)
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Tiger Woods and his girlfriend, Elin Nordegren, react to the missed putt from Davis Love III during the 2003 Presidents Cup in South Africa. (Kim Ludbrook / EPA)
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Tiger Woods drops his club after teeing off during the final round of the 2003 Western Open at Cog Hill in Lemont, Ill. (Charles Cherney / Chicago Tribune)
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Tiger Woods hits out of a bunker during the 2003 Masters. (Dave Martin / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods receives the green jacket from Phil Mickelson after winning the 2005 Masters. (Morry Gash / Associated Press )
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Tiger Woods rips through a drive during the second round of the Target World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks in 2004. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Tiger Woods celebrates immediately after winning the 2006 British Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. (David Cannon / Getty Images)
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Tiger Woods holds his daughter, Sam, while attending a Stanford football game with his wife, Elin Nordegren on Nov. 21, 2009. (Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP)
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Tiger Woods celebrates after sinking a birdie putt on the 18th green to force a playoff with Rocco Mediate at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla. Woods went on to win his 14th major tournament. (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times )
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Tiger Woods and his wife, Elin Nordegren, smile during the closing ceremonies for the Presidents Cup in San Francisco on Oct. 11, 2009. (Scot Tucker / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods speaks during a news conference in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on Feb. 19, 2010. Woods admitted to cheating on his wife during the news conference and announced he would be taking a break from competitive golf. (Sam Greenwood / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods looks down during a news conference in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on Feb. 19, 2010. During the news conference Woods admitted to cheating on his wife. Woods and his wife would eventually divorce. (Eric Gay / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods speaks during a news conference at the Masters on April 5, 2010. Woods made his return to golf at the major tournament after taking a break from competitive golf following his February announcement that he cheated on his wife. (Harry How / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods looks down on down on the 16th green during the first round of the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Penn. (Andrew Redington / Getty Images)
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Tiger Woods celebrates after playing out of a bunker for a birdie on the 18th hole during the second round of the 2012 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s Golf Club. (Harry How / Getty Images)
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Tiger Woods hits a tee shot on the eighth hole during the second round of the 2012 U.S. Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. (Stuart Franklin / Getty Images)
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President Barack Obama speaks to Tiger Woods and other members of the 2013 Presidents Cup team during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on June 24, 2014. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods hits out a sand trap during the 2011 PGA Championship at Atlantic Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga. (Tannen Maury / EPA)
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Tiger Woods smiles and points to the crowd while standing on the 18th green after winning the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
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Tiger Woods hits off the third fairway during the final round of the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, on Sunday. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
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Tiger Woods hits a shot on the third hole during the third round of the Hero World Challenge in Windermere, Fla., on Dec. 6, 2014. (Scott Halleran / Getty Images)
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Tiger Woods attends a super-G race in Italy on Jan. 19, 2015 in support of his girlfriend, Lindsey Vonn, who set a World Cup record for most career wins. The golfer lost a tooth when a camera hit him in the face, his agent says. (Andrea Solero / EPA)
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Tiger Woods watches his tee shot from the 17th hole during the second round of the Phoenix Open on Jan. 30, 2015. (Sam Greenwood / Getty Images)
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Tiger Woods smiles while standing on the 18th green during the final round of the Hero World Challenge in Windermere, Fla., on Dec. 7. (Willie J. Allen, Jr. / Associated Press)
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Tiger Woods walks with his children, Sam, second left, and Charlie, second right, along with girlfriend Lindsey Vonn while taking part in the Par 3 Contest at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2015.
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Tiger Woods stands next to his girlfriend, Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn during the Presidents Cup tournament in Dublin, Ohio, on Oct. 3, 2013. After dating for nearly three years, Woods and Vonn announced their breakup on May 3, 2015.
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Tiger Woods reacts after injuring his right wrist while hitting out of the rough on the ninth hole during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2015.
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Tiger Woods tees off on the second hole during the third round of the Masters at Augusta National on April 11, 2015.
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Tiger Woods leaves the North County Courthouse in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on Oct. 27, 2017, after pleading guilty to a reckless driving charge stemming from an arrest on suspicion of drunk driving.
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Tiger Woods attends Game 2 of the 2017 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 25, 2017.
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Tiger Woods shrugs while responding to a reporter’s question during a news conference at the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill on March 13, 2018. Woods would finish in a tie for fifth that week after finishing in a tie for second at the Valspar Championship in his previous tournament.
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Tiger Woods lines up a putt on the second green during tje Hero World Challenge, an offseason tournament he hosts, at Albany, Bahamas on December 1, 2017. Woods was testing his surgically repaired back in preparation for a 2018 return to the PGA Tour.
(Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images) 
