Woods' physical problems have impeded his athletic performance for years. In April 2011, he reportedly suffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL, a tissue inside the knee) injury, as well as a strained Achilles tendon. In March 2012, his Achilles tendon flared up again, leading him to pull out of the WGC-Cadillac Championship. Later that month, Woods suffered a back spasm, leading him to bow out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
In March 2014, he pulled out of two tournaments, citing back issues. One month later, Woods missed the U.S. Open and Masters to undergo back surgery.
In February 2015, Woods withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open, citing back pain; in September 2015 he underwent a second back surgery, then a follow-up surgery that October.
In December 2016, Woods returned to the game, finishing 15th out of 17 in the Hero World Challenge. In February 2017, he ended his season after a poor performance in the Dubai Desert Classic. In April 2017, he underwent a fourth back surgery, which he said he hopes will get him back in fighting shape.
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