In the world of golf, the anticipation surrounding Tiger Woods' return is palpable. The fifteen-time major champion has recently shared that he believes it will be "some time" before he steps back onto the professional scene, even as he witnessed his team, Jupiter Links, achieve their inaugural victory in the TGL Golf competition this week.
The last time Woods participated in an official PGA Tour event was back in July 2024, where he faced disappointment by missing the cut at The Open. Following a challenging year, 2025 saw him miss the entire season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered in March, compounded by a subsequent disc replacement surgery in October.
At the age of 50, Woods has only managed to compete in 11 events since the life-altering car accident in 2021, making it increasingly difficult for him to remain competitive given his limited opportunities on the course.
When asked about the possibility of playing for his team in the current TGL season, he candidly responded, "I don’t know when I will be able to play. I enjoy watching these guys compete, but in terms of getting back into competitive golf, it’s still going to take some time."
Woods had already indicated that he would not participate in the early matches of the TGL season, despite being officially listed on the roster for 2026. His team, Jupiter Links, has two more league matches scheduled for March 2 and March 4, with the potential to advance to the semi-finals and finals later in the month, provided they finish in the top four. However, his recent statements strongly suggest he will not be competing this season.
Looking ahead, the fact that Woods has turned 50 opens the door for him to participate in the PGA Tour Champions from the next season onward. This provides him with a unique opportunity to compete in events across both the PGA Tour and the Champions circuit once he has fully recuperated from his injuries.
Interestingly, during the PGA Tour Champions events, he could utilize a golf cart, although he did downplay expectations of a quick comeback back in December. He explained, "I’m still quite a ways away from making that kind of commitment or decision. Having gone through the rehabilitation process before, I know it’s a gradual journey. I’ll need to assess my ability to practice, play, and recover before determining my competitive schedule."
Woods has only skimmed the surface regarding the schedule for the Champions Tour, focusing primarily on a handful of specific tournaments.
Additionally, there has been buzz surrounding Brooks Koepka, who recently disclosed that the first person he contacted after leaving his LIV contract was Woods. This conversation revolved around Koepka's desire to reintegrate into the PGA Tour, demonstrating the respect and admiration he has for Woods, who also serves as the chairman of the PGA Tour's Future Competitions Committee.
Woods commented on Koepka’s possibility of joining the TGL next year, saying, "Brooks is just easing back into our Tour after playing at Torrey, and he’s participating in Waste Management this week. We’re expecting one new team next year, potentially two. The details are still up in the air. Whether Brooks will be part of a team remains to be seen, but we have an amazing group here. My teammates and I have really enjoyed our time together, and the group chats are fantastic!"
You can catch the live action of the PGA Tour during the WM Phoenix Open starting Thursday at 2:15 PM on Sky Sports Golf, with full coverage beginning at 8:30 PM. If you’re looking to watch, you can subscribe to Sky Sports or stream it without any contracts through NOW.
