Tiger Woods says he is planning to return to action in October after missing over a year of competitive action. The 40-year-old has undergone multiple back surgeries over past year and has not competed since August 2015.
Tiger Woods says he is planning to return to action in October after missing over a year of competitive action. The 40-year-old has undergone multiple back surgeries over past year and has not competed since August 2015.
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The 14-time major winner has a long history of injury problems. Here he has cream rubbed onto his back by caddy Steve Williams during the 2004 American Express Championship.
The 14-time major winner has a long history of injury problems. Here he has cream rubbed onto his back by caddy Steve Williams during the 2004 American Express Championship.
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Woods won the the U.S. Open in 2008 -- his last major victory to date. He missed tournament in July 2011, <a href="https://www.chinalucky8.com/2011/SPORT/golf/06/07/golf.tiger.usopen.injury/index.html">citing knee and Achilles tendon injuries</a>.
Woods won the the U.S. Open in 2008 -- his last major victory to date. He missed tournament in July 2011, citing knee and Achilles tendon injuries.
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In October 2010, Woods appears dejected after losing a match to Lee Westwood and Luke Donald in the Ryder Cup teams competition in Wales. Later that month he lost his No. 1 ranking to Westwood, a position he had held for 281 consecutive weeks. He had taken a break from golf earlier that year after reports of marital infidelities emerged in late 2009.
In October 2010, Woods appears dejected after losing a match to Lee Westwood and Luke Donald in the Ryder Cup teams competition in Wales. Later that month he lost his No. 1 ranking to Westwood, a position he had held for 281 consecutive weeks. He had taken a break from golf earlier that year after reports of marital infidelities emerged in late 2009.
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Woods misses a putt at the Frys.com Open in October 2011. That month, he fell out of golf's top 50 for the first time in almost 15 years. Woods reportedly lost millions in endorsements after sponsors ended their ties with him in the wake of his sex scandal.
Woods misses a putt at the Frys.com Open in October 2011. That month, he fell out of golf's top 50 for the first time in almost 15 years. Woods reportedly lost millions in endorsements after sponsors ended their ties with him in the wake of his sex scandal.
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Despite his problems, Woods remained a key attraction -- being invited to the 2011 Australian Open, where he finished third. That year he was the highest-paid American athlete on <a target="_blank" target="_blank">Sports Illustrated's "Fortunate 50" list</a>.
Despite his problems, Woods remained a key attraction -- being invited to the 2011 Australian Open, where he finished third. That year he was the highest-paid American athlete on Sports Illustrated's "Fortunate 50" list.
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In July 2011, Woods dropped Williams, his caddy of 12 years. "I want to express my deepest gratitude to Stevie for all his help, but I think it's time for a change," <a href="https://www.chinalucky8.com/2011/SPORT/golf/07/20/golf.woods.caddie.williams/index.html">Woods said</a>.
In July 2011, Woods dropped Williams, his caddy of 12 years. "I want to express my deepest gratitude to Stevie for all his help, but I think it's time for a change," Woods said.
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After a nearly three-month break, Woods returned to golf at the Bridgestone Invitational in August 2011.
After a nearly three-month break, Woods returned to golf at the Bridgestone Invitational in August 2011.
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In August 2011, Woods<a href="https://www.chinalucky8.com/2011/SPORT/golf/08/12/golf.pga.woods.cut/index.html"> failed to make the cut at the PGA Championship</a> for the first time in his career. He has won the season's closing major on four occasions, most recently in 2007.
In August 2011, Woods failed to make the cut at the PGA Championship for the first time in his career. He has won the season's closing major on four occasions, most recently in 2007.
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In October 2011, <a >Woods landed Rolex as a sponsor </a>despite not having won a major tournament in nearly two years. "Rolex is convinced that Tiger Woods still has a long career ahead of him," the high-end watchmaker said. The following month he played for the U.S. in the Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia.
In October 2011, Woods landed Rolex as a sponsor despite not having won a major tournament in nearly two years. "Rolex is convinced that Tiger Woods still has a long career ahead of him," the high-end watchmaker said. The following month he played for the U.S. in the Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia.
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In December 2011, Woods earned his first win in two years at the <a >Chevron World Challenge</a>, a charity tournament that he hosts which does not count on the PGA Tour money list.
In December 2011, Woods earned his first win in two years at the Chevron World Challenge, a charity tournament that he hosts which does not count on the PGA Tour money list.
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Woods lines up his putt at the Honda Classic in March 2012. <a href="https://www.chinalucky8.com/2012/03/05/sport/golf/golf-mcilroy-augusta-woods">He shot a 62, his lowest final round as a professional</a>, but he tied for second in the PGA Tour event.
Woods lines up his putt at the Honda Classic in March 2012. He shot a 62, his lowest final round as a professional, but he tied for second in the PGA Tour event.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Woods signs autographs at the<a > Arnold Palmer Invitational</a> in March 2012. His win there marked his first PGA Tour victory since September 2009.
Woods signs autographs at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March 2012. His win there marked his first PGA Tour victory since September 2009.
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Woods drops the ball on the 15th fairway during the final round of the AT&T National in July 2012. <a >He overtook Jack Nicklaus</a> for second place on the all-time PGA Tour victory list and now has 79 overall -- three behind Sam Snead's record.
Woods drops the ball on the 15th fairway during the final round of the AT&T National in July 2012. He overtook Jack Nicklaus for second place on the all-time PGA Tour victory list and now has 79 overall -- three behind Sam Snead's record.
Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
In 2012, Woods became the first PGA Tour player to earn $100 million when he finished third at the Deutsche Bank Championship, taking home more than $500,000.
In 2012, Woods became the first PGA Tour player to earn $100 million when he finished third at the Deutsche Bank Championship, taking home more than $500,000.
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Woods hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January 2013. <a >He lost his title the previous year as the world's top-paid athlete</a>, dropping to third place on <a >Sports Illustrated's "Fortunate 50" list</a>.
Woods hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January 2013. He lost his title the previous year as the world's top-paid athlete, dropping to third place on Sports Illustrated's "Fortunate 50" list.
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Woods holds the trophy for the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January 2013, where he clinched his 75th PGA Tour title.
Woods holds the trophy for the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January 2013, where he clinched his 75th PGA Tour title.
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In March 2013, Woods and Lindsey Vonn announced <a >they were dating on Facebook</a>. In January that year, the champion skier had finalized her divorce from Thomas Vonn, after initializing proceedings in 2011. Woods split up with his wife, Elin Nordegren, in 2010 after admitting a series of infidelities. In May 2015, Woods and Vonn announced their breakup, with the golfer claiming he "hadn't slept" in the days following.
In March 2013, Woods and Lindsey Vonn announced they were dating on Facebook. In January that year, the champion skier had finalized her divorce from Thomas Vonn, after initializing proceedings in 2011. Woods split up with his wife, Elin Nordegren, in 2010 after admitting a series of infidelities. In May 2015, Woods and Vonn announced their breakup, with the golfer claiming he "hadn't slept" in the days following.
Courtesy Lindsey Vonn and Tiger Woods
In 2013, Woods regained the <a >No. 1 spot in world golf rankings</a> with a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
In 2013, Woods regained the No. 1 spot in world golf rankings with a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
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Woods winces in pain after striking a tree root with his club after a shot from the rough in the final round of the 2015 Masters Tournament in April. He tied for 17th place.
Woods winces in pain after striking a tree root with his club after a shot from the rough in the final round of the 2015 Masters Tournament in April. He tied for 17th place.
David Cannon/Getty Images
Woods' best result of an injury-hit 2015 was a tie for 10th at August's Wyndham Championship -- his last appearance this season before having back surgery.
Woods' best result of an injury-hit 2015 was a tie for 10th at August's Wyndham Championship -- his last appearance this season before having back surgery.
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In July 2015, Woods missed the cut at the British Open for just the second time in his illustrious career.
In July 2015, Woods missed the cut at the British Open for just the second time in his illustrious career.
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Woods throws his club in disgust following a shot from the rough during the first round of the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in June, when he missed the halfway cut after rounds of 80 and 76.
Woods throws his club in disgust following a shot from the rough during the first round of the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in June, when he missed the halfway cut after rounds of 80 and 76.
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Tiger Woods: From highs to lows

Story highlights

Woods had third back operation last month

Says he can't even bend down to pick up a ball

Former No. 1 now 400th in the world rankings

"Doesn't know" when he will play again

CNN  — 

Is that it for Tiger Woods?

The 14-time major champion has sunk to world No. 400 after a litany of injuries and poor form saw him tumble down the rankings.

And the 39-year old was in a particularly bleak mood recently as he revealed his physical condition is so bad after another back operation that he can’t even bend down to pick up a ball.

Woods underwent his third microdiscectomy surgery last month – a procedure to remove bone around a pinched nerve to allow space for it to heal – and admitted he has no idea when he will be back on the course.

“I have no answer for that. Neither does my surgeon or my physio,” Woods said in a press conference at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas, where he was to host the Hero World Challenge tournament that raises funds for his charity.

“I also had to reset the clock each and every day and ‘OK, here we go, this is a new day and this is taken for what it is.’

“I listen to my surgeon, I listen to my physios, and we just take it day by day. Hopefully the day by day adds up to something positive here soon.”

READ: “I still love Tiger,” says Vonn

Woods won his last major title at the U.S. Open in 2008 but hasn’t had a significant victory since lifting the Bridgestone Invitational in 2013.

He has previously suffered a serious knee ligament injury, but his back problem is proving particularly difficult psychologically.

“There is no timetable for this and that’s been the hardest mindset adjustment is that I don’t know,” he lamented. “Where is the light at the end of the tunnel? I don’t know, so that’s been hard.

“There is nothing I can look forward to, nothing I can build towards.”

Woods, who spent a record 683 weeks ranked as world No. 1, revealed that a lot of his time is now spent playing video games and soccer with his kids, although his movement is severely restricted.

“I walk. And I walk … I’m just walking, and that’s it,” he said glumly.

“I would like to be able to get to that first (bending over to pick up ball). If I can get to that, then we can start talking about golf.”

Woods is also facing up to the fact he may never win a major, or any title, again in his career.

“I think pretty much everything beyond this will be gravy,” said Woods, who has racked up 79 PGA Tour triumphs in total and over $110 million in tournament prize money.

“I’ve passed Jack (Nicklaus) in the all-time win list, just shy of Sam (Snead). I passed Sam basically a decade ago in major championships but I’m still shy of Jack’s (record of 18).

“So I’ve had a pretty good career for my 20s and 30s. For my 20 years out here I think I’ve achieved a lot, and if that’s all it entails, then I’ve had a pretty good run.

“But I’m hoping that’s not it. I’m hoping that I can get back out here and compete against these guys. I really do miss it.”

Rickie Fowler embraces girlfriend Alexis Randock after winning at TPC Sawgrass.
Rickie Fowler embraces girlfriend Alexis Randock after winning at TPC Sawgrass.
Sam Greenwoo/Getty Images

Related article Why Tiger Woods isn't trendy, but Rickie Fowler is

And Woods isn’t the only one. Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy sent a message of support to the stricken golfer on social media.

“Wishing my idol and friend a speedy recovery,” the Northern Irishman posted on Instagram. “Golf without him doesn’t bear thinking about. Hope to see you back on the course soon.”

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