Tiger Woods has follow-up procedure on back

(Reuters) – Tiger Woods has had a follow-up procedure on his back, a month after undergoing surgery for the second time in a year and a half, the former world number one said on Friday.

The 14-time major winner had the procedure to relieve discomfort on Wednesday in Utah and is currently on bed rest.

There is no timetable on his return.

“It’s one of those things that had to be done,” Woods said on his website. “I have an outstanding team of doctors, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Woods, who has slipped to 351st in the world, had microdiscectomy surgery in March 2014 and again on Sept. 16 this year to correct a disk fragment pinching a nerve.

“Tiger is doing well, and we expect him to make a full recovery,” Dr. Charles Rich said.

Woods is expected to attend but not play his Hero World Challenge, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, at Albany in the Bahamas from Dec. 2-6.

He remains hopeful of returning to competition next year.

“My family and the fans concern and support have helped a lot,” Woods said. “I’ll be back, and I’ll be ready to compete.”

(Reporting by Ben Everill in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)