Tiger Woods is now likely to miss the remainder of the season in revealing he has undergone yet further back surgery to alleviate pain in his back and legs.

However, Woods said via his website on Thursday he still hopes to return to professional golf.

“The surgery went well, and I’m optimistic this will relieve my back spasms and pain,” said Woods.

“When healed, I look forward to getting back to a normal life, playing with my kids, competing in professional golf and living without the pain I have been battling so long.”

Tiger Woods chatting with Tracey Stewart in Missouri earlier this week at the unveiling of his newest design course.

Woods said the surgery, termed a “minimally invasive Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion” at the L5/S1 site, was his choice after attempts at relieving pain through rehabilitation, medication and other therapies proved ineffective at halting the back spasms and nerve pain he has been experiencing.

The 14-time major winner indicated his three previous back surgeries dating back to March 2014, including two microdiscectomy procedures, left the now-removed disc severely narrowed, causing sciatica and severe back and leg pain

Woods, who clearly looked uncomfortable earlier this week in A course unveiling ceremony in Missouri, says he plans to rest for “several weeks” before beginning therapy and treatment.

News of yet another operation should effectively rules Woods out of golf till at least later this year and in the process missing the remaining three Majors of the year.

Woods last played in shooting a 77 at the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic and then withdrawing from round two.

On Tuesday, Woods hit a pair of golf shots at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri, in a ceremony to unveil the Payne’s Valley course, a new 18-hole championship golf course to be designed by his TGR Design firm and open in 2019.

Woods hit his first 100-yard shot into a guarding water hazard before doing better with a second attempt.