Piers Morgan makes Tiger Woods request after golf legend's latest back operation - 'If he wants'

He made the cut at The Masters in his next appearance, but struggled on the weekend to finish 60th.

The American sports icon then failed to make the cut at the other three majors with his last event being The Open in Troon.

Woods admitted to feeling 'back spasms and pain' throughout the year that prevented him from playing more and announced last month that he had undergone 'microdepression surgery of the lumbar spine for nerve impingement in the lower back'.

It's believed to be his sixth back operation in his career, with the first coming back in 2014.

"The surgery went smoothly and I'm hopeful it will alleviate the back spasms and the pain I was experiencing throughout most of the 2024 season," he said.

"I look forward to tackling this rehab and preparing myself to get back to normal life activities, including golf.

"It's unclear how long Woods' recovery will be and when he could potentially return to competitive golf.

But Morgan, who is competing at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship this week alongside Matthew Jordan, is hopeful that Woods will continue playing competitively for many more years.

"I think Tiger should play as long as he wants," he said.

"I would pay to watch Tiger Woods until he’s 90.

"So if he wants to keep playing golf, let him play.

"I remember him being written off last time, and then he won the Masters again.

"And suddenly all the critics that told him to give up, look very, very stupid.

"I would never, ever write off Tiger Woods.

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"Obviously, his body’s not quite there yet, but if he was to get back to proper fitness, he’s an incredible athlete, with amazing mental strength — why can’t he carry on?

"I think Tiger is the greatest to ever play the game. Just think peak Tiger, if you watch the videos of him or watched him at the time as I did, and you compare him to any other golfer in history, there’s no comparison, I don’t think.

"Obviously there are other greats, but peak Tiger Woods, he would have killed everyone."