Tiger Woods undergoes second microdiscectomy surgery on back

ByABC News
September 18, 2015, 7:02 PM

— -- Tiger Woods announced Friday evening via his website that he has undergone a second back surgery and does not anticipate returning to play until early in 2016.

"I appreciate the fans' concern and support," he said. "This is unfortunate, but these things happen. I've been injured before and played again. It won't be any different this time."

Woods underwent a second microdiscectomy procedure on his back Wednesday by Dr. Charles Rich, who also performed the first surgery on March 31, 2014.

In the announcement on Woods' website, Rich described the surgery, to remove a disk fragment that was pinching a nerve, as a "complete success."

"This is certainly disappointing, but I'm a fighter," Woods said. "I've been told I can make a full recovery, and I have no doubt that I will."