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Woods targets Masters after year-long PGA Tour absence
Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods has confirmed he is attempting to compete in next month's Masters, marking his first PGA Tour appearance since The Open in 2024.
Recent comeback and physical challenges
The 50-year-old golfer returned to competitive action on Tuesday in the TGL season finale, nearly a year and a half after his last PGA Tour event. Woods underwent back surgery in October to replace a damaged disc, sidelining him for months.
Despite his layoff, Woods displayed flashes of his former power, driving the ball over 300 yards during his TGL return. However, he acknowledged that recovery no longer comes as easily as it did in his prime.
"I've been trying, but this body doesn't recover like it did when I was 24, 25. It doesn't mean I'm not trying; I've been trying for a while," Woods said. "I've had a couple of bad injuries last year that I've had to fight through."
TGL final defeat and Masters ambitions
Woods' Jupiter Links team, which he co-owns, fell 9-2 to Los Angeles Golf Club in the TGL championship match. The loss came after Jupiter Links led 2-0 in the best-of-three final, only for Los Angeles to rally with three consecutive eagles on the back nine.
Woods, who replaced Kevin Kisner in the lineup, missed a critical three-foot putt on the seventh hole, shifting momentum to the opponents. The match ended in a concession on the 10th hole.
"We got our ass kicked at the end," Woods admitted. "Three eagles in a row, we didn't respond. I missed a short one to kind of get it started and give them momentum, and we never got it back."
Masters history and future plans
The Masters, which begins April 9 at Augusta National, holds special significance for Woods, who has won the tournament five times. He first competed there as a 19-year-old and has described it as a cornerstone of his career.
Woods has remained involved with Jupiter Links throughout the 2026 TGL season, a PGA Tour-backed indoor league played in a custom Florida venue. His team advanced to the final after defeating Rory McIlroy's Boston Common in the semifinals.
While his participation in the Masters hinges on his physical condition, Woods reiterated his determination to compete. "I want to play," he said. "I've loved the Masters tournament... I'm going to be there either way."
