Woods undergoes knee surgery, targets October return

(Reuters) – Tiger Woods had a knee operation last week but is expected to make a full recovery and hopes to be back competing in October.

The former world number one said he had an arthroscopic procedure to “repair minor cartilage damage”.

“I’m walking now and hope to resume practice in the next few weeks,” Woods said after the procedure on his left knee. “I look forward to travelling and playing in Japan in October.”

Apart from winning the Masters, his 15th major title, the 43-year-old has had a relatively subdued season with injuries hampering his preparation and performances.

Vern Cooley, the doctor who performed the knee surgery, said in a statement here: “I expect Tiger to make a full recovery.

“We did what was needed and also examined the entire knee. There were no additional problems.”

Woods withdrew from the Northern Trust Open earlier this month due to pain and stiffness in his surgically repaired back.

KNEE ISSUE

While Woods has dealt with a string of ailments this season his left knee until now had not been one of them although it has been an issue throughout his career.

He first had surgery on the knee in 1994 to remove scar tissue and again in 2002 to remove a cyst.

There was more surgery in 2008 to repair a ruptured ACL after he famously won the U.S. Open that year in a playoff over Rocco Mediate as he hobbled around Torrey Pines.

That was Woods’ last major win until this year when he triumphed at the Masters.

Woods said he expected to be fit to play in the Zozo Championship in Japan on Oct. 24-27 followed by the Hero World Challenge he hosts from Dec. 4-7.

U.S. captain for the President’s Cup, Woods could also select himself to play in the biennial event set for Dec. 9-15 at Royal Melbourne in Australia.

He is currently one shy of Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour victories.