Golf legend Tiger Woods had a knee operation last week but is expected to make a full recovery and hopes to be back competing in October.

The former world No.1 said he had an arthroscopic procedure to "repair minor cartilage damage."

"I'm walking now and hope to resume practice in the next few weeks," Woods said after the procedure on his left knee. "I look forward to traveling and playing in Japan in ­October."

Apart from winning the Masters, his 15th major title, the 43-year-old has had a relatively subdued season with injuries hampering his ­preparation and performances.

Vern Cooley, the doctor who performed the knee surgery, said in a statement, "I expect Tiger to make a full recovery.

"We did what was needed and also examined the entire knee. There were no additional problems."

Woods withdrew from the Northern Trust Open earlier this month due to pain and stiffness in his surgically repaired back.

While Woods has dealt with a string of ailments this season his left knee until now had not been one of them although it has been an issue throughout his career.

He first had surgery on the knee in 1994 to remove scar tissue and again in 2002 to remove a cyst.

There was more surgery in 2008 to repair a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament after he famously won the US Open that year in a playoff over Rocco Mediate as he hobbled around Torrey Pines.

That was Woods' last major win until this year when he triumphed at the Masters.

Woods said he expected to be fit to play in the Zozo Championship in Japan from October 24 to 27, followed by the Hero World Challenge he hosts from December 4 to 7.

US captain for the President's Cup, Woods could also select himself to play in the biennial event set for December 9 to 15 at Royal Melbourne in Australia.

He is currently one shy of Sam Snead's record of 82 PGA Tour victories.