Tiger Woods sustained his 7th back surgery this Friday. The lumbar disc replacement was done at the L4/5 level, which Woods recognised as a good decision for his long-term health, especially after battling agonizing pain and mobility issues for years. However, this has crushed his chances of making a return to competitive golf anytime soon. Although heartbreaking, what touched hearts were the messages of Ernie Els and Annika Sorenstam following the surgery, golf legends in their own right.

The 49-year-old’s team shared the health update on Saturday. Right after the news began making waves on the internet, Woods’s on-course rival, Ernie Els, took to Instagram to acknowledge the surgery. Sending prayers for a fast recovery, Els wrote: “Get better soon, Big cat-all the very best to you and your family.” Although a simple message, it shows the enduring respect and kinship between the PGA Tour legends, built over years of contending together.

To this day, Els respects Woods’s competitive spirit. He jokingly regrets praising Woods back in 1996 and encouraging him to go pro. During the 96’Open Championship, Woods approached Big Easy and asked what he thought of his play and whether he was ready to become a pro. To this, Els replied with one word, with pure belief and confidence, “Absolutely.”  On the Dan Patrick Show, Els joked about this conversation he had in the locker room: “That was probably one of the biggest mistakes of my life.” I should have said that you just stay at Stanford and get a good job.”

Similarly, LPGA legend and 10-time major champion Annika Sorenstam sent a subtle yet profound message within 4 hours of the announcement. Retweeting the update on X, Sorenstam wrote: “Wish for a quick recovery 🙏.” This goes on to show the strong relationships Woods fostered across the men’s and the ladies’ Tours.

These messages are not standalone instances of support from his friends. Rather, these are indicative of a relationship the golf legends have strengthened over the years.

When Tiger Woods suffered a brutal car crash in 2021, Sorenstam was one of the first to share her concerns. The LPGA veteran shared a picture of the two, as she wrote on X:

“My heart sank when I heard about @TigerWoods’ accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. I wish him a full and speedy recovery. 🙏🙏”

Further, Sorenstam shared her deep admiration and respect for the golf phenom, speaking at the Folds of Honor Greats of Golf event at the Insperity Invitational in 2023. Joined by legends like Jack Nicklaus, the golfing world acknowledged Woods’ recent surgeries and his comeback struggles.

“I think he’s in more pain than he lets everybody know. I think it’s a lot more serious. But he is so tough. And so courageous,” Sorenstam exclaimed.

Through the years, Woods and Sorenstam’s relationship has only grown stronger. While the latter hoped that Woods’ Subtalar fusion surgery in 2023 would be his last, clearly that didn’t turn out to be the case. The PGA Tour veteran went on to have multiple other surgeries, including microdiscectomies and a recent Achilles tendon surgery.

With Woods’s latest lumbar disc replacement, his hiatus from golf stretches even further. Since missing the cut at the Royal Troon last year, he has stayed out of the PGA Tour. His last competitive golfing event came at the indoor TGL event earlier in 2025. However, with a recovery window of 6-12 months, fans won’t expect his return to the TGL S2 or the Hero World Challenge.

While Tiger Woods stays out of the sport, others have chimed in with their comforting messages to the legend.

The golfing world spills in with recovery messages

Needless to say, Tiger Woods’ health update sparked conversations all over the internet. While some fans sent prayers and wishes for a speedy recovery, others nudged his retirement. They acknowledged the undeniable impact Woods has had on the sport, while also asking him to take a seat. Some also mentioned diminishing chances of his playing in the seniors tournament. As it turns out, top golfers in the current scene also poured in with their heartwarming messages.

Phil Mickelson reposted Woods’ official update, quoting: “I’m sorry to hear this and I wish him the best for a speedy recovery.” Despite having a long-standing rivalry, their relationship beyond the greens reflects mutual respect and appreciation.

Tiger Woods rallied similar support during his Achilles rupture in March. European star Rory McIlroy shared his respect for the golf veteran’s drive and resilience. “Obviously, he was trying to ramp up to get ready for Augusta, and Achilles surgeries obviously aren’t fun. Hoping he’s in good spirits and hoping he’s doing okay,” McIlroy remarked. “We obviously won’t see him play golf this year, and hopefully we see him maybe play in 2026.”

In the end, the outpouring of support from legends and fans alike highlights just how deeply Tiger Woods’ journey continues to resonate.