Back surgery will force Tiger Woods to miss at least two tournaments 

As the PGA Tour website noted, it's the fifth time the 45-year-old has undergone a back operation. Woods will now be unable to compete at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines next week or The Genesis Invitational that he will be hosting from Feb. 18-21. He remains tied with Sam Snead at 82 career PGA victories, the most ever recorded. 

Along with the five back surgeries, Woods has also had multiple operations on his left knee. He finished tied for 38th (-1) at the 2020 Masters Tournament that was postponed from the spring to November due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That was the last time he played at an official event. 

Per Bob Harig of ESPN, Woods complained about back stiffness and soreness multiple times in 2020. Harig added that Woods underwent a similar procedure on March 31, 2014, and then returned in June of that same year. The first round of the 2021 Masters is currently scheduled to take place on April 8. 

It's a safe bet Woods will do whatever possible to be at Augusta National that Thursday morning.