Tiger Woods Back Injury: His Masters Odds Following 5th Surgery

Tiger Woods Odds to win 2021 Masters

Tiger Woods announced Tuesday that he’s undergone a fifth back procedure, which will keep him from making his 2021 debut at next week’s Farmers Insurance Open or the following Genesis Invitational, and ostensibly puts the upcoming Masters in doubt.

According to Woods’ website, he recently had another microdiscectomy procedure “to remove a pressurized disc fragment that was pinching his nerve.”

It’s unclear exactly when the surgery took place, though the report states it happened after last month’s PNC Championship, during which he competed alongside his son, Charlie.

“I look forward to begin training and am focused on getting back on TOUR,” Woods said in the statement.

Two years ago, Woods won his fifth career Masters title, leaving him one behind Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record and he later tied with Sam Snead for the most PGA TOUR titles at 82.

Woods’ most recent back surgery took place on April 20, 2017. It took him eight months to return to competition, finishing T-9 at his own Hero World Challenge in December.

He’s since maintained that the pain was so egregious that he didn’t believe he’d ever compete again, but his ensuing resurgence is considered among the greatest comebacks in the history of golf — or any other sport.

Woods won the TOUR Championship at the end of the 2018 season, the massive East Lake crowds following him down the final hole serving as one of the enduring images of the game in recent years.

The comeback, of course, culminated with his Masters victory the following spring, his 15th career major championship victory. He later added a win at the Zozo Championship for his 82nd win.

According to the latest report, “His doctors and their team have determined [the procedure] to be successful and expect him to make a full recovery.”

Woods' odds across sportsbooks were unchanged following the news, which isn't all that surprising. His odds are already fairly long for a player of his stature and expected betting handle. He's often the most-bet golfer at majors, especially the Masters.

He is expected to still serve as tournament host in some capacity for the upcoming Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in three weeks.