Tiger Woods, consider one of the most lovable golfers ever, is back in the news. The 49-year-old revealed some information, recently that he has had more back surgery and is not worrying about how long he will be out for.

The news signaled to the public, and his fans, that Woods might or might not return to playing in tournaments. His on-course appearances have been sporadic in recent years and although there has been talk of a stronger return this season, injuries remain a constant obstacle to any form of momentum.

A lot of people have asked why Woods has had such a litany of ailments over the years. Some of his injuries were immediately obvious, sustained in a devastating car accident and the toll of many years as a high-level athlete; others seem to be long lingering problems that never really healed.

Golf writer Dan Rapaport detailed a revealing moment with Woods on his podcast earlier this week. As they were talking, Rapaport asked Woods if there was anything he would have changed looking back to avoid the injuries that haunted his career.

“I remember asking him, ‘When you look back at all the injuries, is there one thing if you had to do it over again that you wish you hadn’t done?’ ” Rapaport recalled. “And he said, ‘Yes — I should not have run that much.’ He had been training by running several miles a day, and it took quite a toll on his knees. That was the big issue,” Rapaport said, via Golf Magic.

Woods has gone through number of surgeries during his career, due to the result of rigorous and relentless training. His devotion to golf transformed golf, setting a generation of players on a path to strength and conditioning. That fire, though, maybe also sped up the physical toll on his body.

Yet, setbacks aside, Woods is still a golfer of historic proportions. His body of work and influence, and the magnitude of his impact upon the sport are unparalleled and he is a legend — even as his career is tampered by more physical challenges.

📊 Timeline Chart – showing Tiger Woods’ major injuries, surgeries, and comebacks over the years