Tiger Woods: Who is back surgeon| How did rupture his achilles

Tiger Woods: Who Is His Back Surgeon & How Did He Rupture His Achilles?

Tiger Woods, one of the greatest golfers in history, has long battled injuries that have challenged his ability to compete at the elite level he once dominated. Two of the most significant medical stories in his recent career revolve around his back — and more recently, his ruptured Achilles tendon. In this article we’ll dig into who has operated on his back over the years, and the circumstances and medical treatment of his Achilles injury.

1. Tiger’s chronic back issues: a recurring battle

To understand why the identity of his back surgeon matters, we must first trace Tiger’s long and complicated history of spinal injuries.

1.1 Early back pain and first surgeries

Tiger’s back problems began to surface publicly around 2014, when he underwent his first lumbar microdiscectomy, a procedure to remove herniated disc material that was pressing on a spinal nerve. Over the following years, he would undergo multiple microdiscectomies — including two in 2015.

By 2017, the repeated spinal degeneration led him to a more drastic surgical option: spinal fusion surgery, specifically a lumbar fusion to fuse vertebrae together so that painful motion or instability is eliminated.

Over time, as he continued to struggle with pain, nerve impingements, and mechanical stress, he has had in total several spine surgeries — six by 2024, and more thereafter.

1.2 2024–2025: More spinal surgery

In September 2024, for example, Tiger underwent micro-decompression surgery to relieve nerve impingement in his lower back.

Then, in October 2025, he underwent a lumbar disc replacement surgery at the L4-L5 level after imaging showed a collapsed disc, disc fragments, and a compromised spinal canal. The operation was performed by Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

In his statement, Woods explained that after months of pain and reduced mobility, he and his medical team determined that disc replacement offered the best option to restore function and relieve symptoms.

This recent back surgery is at least his seventh spinal surgery since 2014.

2. Who is Tiger Woods’s back surgeon?

Given the multiple spine operations over the years, it’s not a case of a single surgeon, but a few key names emerge in his more recent procedures.

2.1 Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi

The most recent and high‐profile surgeon associated with Tiger’s back care is Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi. He performed the lumbar disc replacement at L4-L5 in October 2025. He also performed the microdecompression surgery in September 2024, earlier in Woods’ recent spine history.

Dr. Qureshi is affiliated with the Hospital for Special Surgery and is a spinal surgeon specializing in complex spine surgery and disc replacement procedures.

2.2 Previous spine surgeons

Over his long injury history, Tiger Woods has had multiple spine surgeons handling various procedures (microdiscectomies, fusion, decompression). One that is often cited is in relation to his 2017 spinal fusion — engineers of that procedure are less publicly documented, but the fusion was reported to be a minimally invasive anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) procedure. That fusion combined with subsequent disc surgeries suggests collaboration between spinal surgeons, orthopedic specialists, and neurosurgeons.

One article describes Tiger’s earlier surgeries (pre-2017) as posterior microdiscectomies, followed by the 2017 ALIF (anterior approach).

Thus, while Dr. Qureshi is the most recent and current go‐to surgeon for Woods’s spinal care, earlier surgeons played vital roles in managing his back across time.

3. How did Tiger Woods rupture his Achilles tendon?

While much attention has been on his back, in March 2025 Tiger Woods suffered another serious injury: a ruptured left Achilles tendon.

3.1 Timeline and mechanism

On March 11, 2025, Woods announced he had ruptured his left Achilles tendon during home training and practice. The rupture did not occur in competition, but while ramping up training intensity at home.

He underwent surgery that same day: a “minimally invasive” Achilles tendon repair procedure performed by Dr. Charlton Stucken at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida. The operation was declared a success.

Tiger confirmed that recovery and rehabilitation are the path forward, though he did not announce a definitive timeline for return to competitive golf.

3.2 Medical context: Achilles ruptures in athletes

The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscle (gastrocnemius, soleus) to the heel bone (calcaneus). Sudden load or forceful push-off—especially during change of direction or acceleration—can cause the tendon to tear fully or partially. Factors such as age, prior degeneration, sudden jump in training intensity, or underlying tendon wear increase rupture risk.

In Woods’s case, the injury seemed to occur as he intensified training, perhaps stressing an already vulnerable tendon. While he had not publicly documented longstanding Achilles issues, the rupture is consistent with overuse or abrupt stress in a high-performance athlete. Tiger Woods back surgeon.

4. Treatment, rehabilitation, and return prospects

Let’s examine how Tiger’s medical team approaches recovery and what it might mean for his future.

4.1 Back surgery recovery and rehab

After his disc replacement in October 2025, Tiger will be entering a complex recovery trajectory.

• Spinal disc replacement is more preserving of motion compared to fusion, but still demands careful postoperative rehabilitation and control of spinal loads.

• Typically, full recovery from such spine surgery can take 6 to 12 months depending on complexity, patient health, and adherence to rehab.

• Because this is his seventh back surgery in a decade, the cumulative scar tissue, prior surgeries, and degenerative changes complicate the rehabilitation process.

Tiger’s own statement expressed optimism: “I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back.”

4.2 Achilles repair recovery and rehab

For the ruptured Achilles:

• The minimally invasive repair aims to restore tendon continuity and strength while minimizing surgical trauma.

• Achilles repair rehabilitation typically involves a period of immobilization or controlled loading, gradually progressing to range-of-motion and strength exercises over months.

• Full return to high-level sports—particularly with rotational forces as in golf—may take 9 to 12 months or more, depending on healing and physical conditioning.

Given that his Back surgery in late 2025 overlaps with Achilles recovery, his return to competitive golf is expected to be delayed further.

4.3 What lies ahead: return to golf

• Tiger is already co-founder and participant in TGL, an indoor team golf league. He is expected to debut in Season 2 in January 2026.

• However, given his recent back surgery in October 2025, expectations are cautious about participating immediately.

• His participation in traditional PGA Tour events or majors in 2026 will depend heavily on his rehab progress and how his spine holds up under competitive stresses. Tiger Woods back surgeon.

FAQs

Q1: How many back surgeries has Tiger Woods had?
A: As of October 2025, Tiger Woods has undergone at least seven spinal procedures (microdiscectomies, decompression, fusion, and disc replacement) since 2014.

Q2: Who is Tiger Woods’s back surgeon now?
A: His recent spine procedures—including lumbar disc replacement at L4-L5 in October 2025 and prior microdecompression surgery—were performed by Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi. Tiger Woods back surgeon.

Q3: How did Tiger rupture his Achilles tendon?
A: He ruptured his left Achilles while ramping up training at home in March 2025.

Q4: Who performed the Achilles surgery?
A: Dr. Charlton Stucken of the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach operated on Woods in a minimally invasive repair.

Q5: When can Tiger return to golf?
A: Recovery timelines are uncertain. Achilles repair may take 9–12 months, while spinal disc replacement could require up to a year. Overlap in recovery may delay his full return well into 2026. Participation in TGL is more likely than immediate reentry into high-stress PGA tournaments.

Q6: Is disc replacement superior to spinal fusion?
A: Disc replacement preserves motion at the vertebral level and places less stress on adjacent discs, whereas fusion eliminates movement at a segment. But in cases with extensive degeneration or prior surgery, fusion may remain preferable. The decision depends on patient condition, prior surgeries, and pathology.