Tiger Woods admits his 2013 back injury led to some ‘very dark days’

Woods explained how a back ailment is the worst thing that can happen to a golfer

With the 2025 U.S. Open around the corner, one name remains noticeably absent-Tiger Woods. Once a fixture at golf’s biggest stages, Woods has yet to tee off this season due to Achilles surgery.

After an injury-plagued 2024 in which he missed the cut in three of the four majors and posted his worst score ever at Augusta National, many wonder if the 15-time major champion will return to competitive form.

Currently ranked 1,341 in the Official World Golf Ranking, the lowest of his career, Woods‘ fall from dominance can be traced to a moment over a decade ago that changed everything.

The origin of his physical decline goes back to The Barclays tournament in 2013. That week, Woods was already dealing with back discomfort, which he attributed to sleeping in a soft hotel bed. On Sunday, while in contention, everything unraveled on the par-5 13th hole.

After hitting his second shot, Woods fell to his knees in agony. Despite the pain, he finished the round and tied for second, just one shot behind Adam Scott. But the injury lingered-and it marked the beginning of a years-long battle with his body.

From collapse to comeback: Woods’ battle with his body

In a candid interview with Rolex, Woods opened up about that critical moment at The Barclays.

“That hurt. That’s basically when I broke my back. The burning and searing pain-it felt like it was on fire,” he said.

The aftermath was brutal. He wasn’t just missing tournaments-he struggled with everyday tasks.

“I couldn’t walk, couldn’t get to the bathroom. I was lying on the ground, unable to move,” he added.

The severity forced him to withdraw from close friend Notah Begay‘s charity event shortly after.

Back spasms and nerve pain became recurring issues for Woods, ultimately requiring six back surgeries from 2004 to 2024. Among the most significant was the 2017 spinal fusion, a procedure Woods feared might end his career. In a video for Centinel Spine, he compared the chronic pain to repeatedly hitting your funny bone. But after the operation, the nerve pain that had tormented him vanished-an outcome that paved the way for one of the most inspiring comebacks in sports history.

Just two years after spinal fusion, Woods shocked the world by winning the 2019 Masters, his 15th major title and first in over a decade. That win reminded the world not just of his talent, but of his sheer willpower.

“That’s how I was raised-pick yourself up and do it again, and again, and again. And when you’re tired, do it again,” Woods reiterated.

This attitude was perhaps most evident during the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Woods competed with two stress fractures and a torn ACL in his left knee. Despite the excruciating pain and being advised not to play, he fought his way to a dramatic playoff victory over Rocco Mediate. It was a defining moment of grit.