Tiger Woods refuses to rule out return to action at the Masters in April
Tiger Woods says he is not ruling out a return to professional golf at the Masters in April following his recovery from back surgery.
The 15-time major champion underwent lumbar disc replacement in October after also rupturing his Achilles earlier in the year.
Woods, 50, has not played competitively since missing the cut at the Open Championship at Royal Troon in 2024.
“It has been challenging,” said Woods, who is hosting this week’s Genesis Invitational. “My body has been through a lot. Each and every day I keep trying, I keep progressing, trying to get it to a level that I can play at the highest level.”
Recovery progress and physical toll
While the American confirms his Achilles is no longer an issue, the aftermath of his spinal procedure remains the primary hurdle for a comeback.
Woods is now able to hit full shots, but the physical demands of tournament play require patience.
“It’s just sore. It takes time,” he explained. “[Will Zalatoris] went through it, and it took him a while to come back. I’m a little bit older than [him]. It’s probably going to take me a little bit longer.”
Although his game has shown flashes of his former brilliance during practice, walking 72 holes remains a significant physical challenge due to the toll of multiple surgeries.
Champions Tour and cart usage
The former world number one has previously dismissed using a cart on the PGA Tour, but acknowledged he would consider it for senior events.
Having turned 50, Woods is now eligible to compete on the Champions Tour.
“I entered a new decade, so that number is starting to sink in and has us thinking about the opportunity to be able to play in a cart,” he said.
“That’s something that, as I said, I won’t do out here on this tour because I don’t believe in it. But on the Champions Tour, that’s certainly an opportunity.”
Ryder Cup captaincy decision looming
Beyond his rehabilitation, the 82-time PGA Tour winner remains heavily involved in administrative duties as vice chairman of the board.
This workload is currently delaying a decision regarding the Team USA captaincy for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.
“They have asked me for my input on it, and I haven’t made my decision yet,” Woods stated.
“I’m trying to figure out what we’re trying to do with our tour. That’s been driving me hours upon hours every day and trying to figure out if I can actually do our team, our Team USA… justice with my time.”