TIGER WOODS has released a shock statement confirming he has undergone a fifth knee operation.

The 15-time Major champion had the surgery on his left knee last week to repair minor cartilage damage.

Woods said: "I would like to thank Dr Cooley and his team.

"I'm walking now and hope to resume practice in the next few weeks.

"I look forward to traveling and playing in Japan in October."

Dr Vern Cooley, who performed the latest knee surgery as well as the one Woods underwent in 2008 after winning the US Open, said: "I expect Tiger to make a full recovery. We did what was needed, and also examined the entire knee.

"There were no additional problems."

This is the fifth knee surgery Woods has had since 1994 – and the first since his Masters win in April of this year.

Woods underwent career-saving spinal fusion surgery in April 2017, nearly two years to the day before he claimed his fifth Green Jacket.

And this latest surgery appears to have come out of the blue, with a weary Woods struggling to gain any sort of form since Augusta.

The American, 43, was unable to defend his Tour Championship title – won by Rory McIlroy – after failing to finish in the top 30 on the PGA Tour.

He missed the cut at The Open in Royal Portrush and said he was battling a "sore" back at the season's third Major.

Wood's best finish after his Masters heroics was a tie for ninth at the Memorial in June and he withdrew from the Northern Trust earlier this month.

In 2019, the former world No 1 has battled a neck strain and an oblique strain and this latest surgery will raise more questions over how long his body can perform at the highest level.

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