Golf legend Tiger Woods said his back was still giving him issues despite having his fourth surgery in three years.

The back spasms forced him to miss the Dubai Desert Classic. The golf world expected him back in weeks but it has dragged to several months and now it seems the fight against pain is not ending anytime soon.

He is not expected to achieve much all year if he miraculously gets to feature. Since 2014, the former champion has struggled to get action, spending more time on the sidelines. There was a glimmer of hope that he would get back some form but alas the 41-year old relapsed to fighting pain.

The player’s agent Mark Steinberg claimed the surgery is “to eliminate the bad bays.” The player’s website had a quote from him which reads: “The surgery went well, and I’m optimistic this will relieve my back spasms and pain. 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.”

Should Tiger Woods not call time on his career and focus on getting back to a healthy lifestyle? The major no. 15 would most likely never come and age is not on his side. All the progresses he seemed to have made a few months back seem to have eroded, and the ambitious plans he had gone.

Steinberg kept alluding to Woods’ desire for a healthy and pain-free life. His body had ached for a long time and while he wants to exit on a good note, it is better to get his priorities straight. The agent seems to be doing a good job of keeping Woods relevant but the fighter might be long gone.