There won’t be a dry in the house when Tiger Woods ends his legendary golf career while strolling over the famous Swilcan Bridge at St Andrews on his favourite golf course in the world at the 155th Open.
This is my prediction as to what will happen on Friday 16 Sunday 18 July 2027.
It might not be the fairytale ending many of us wish so soon for Woods, but in my eyes it would be a fitting way for him to bow out of tournament golf given what his body is going through at the moment.
Woods, 49, unfortunately revealed on social media last weekend that he has undergone lumbar disc replacement surgery in his L4/5 for yet more lower back symptoms.
It marks the seventh back surgery of his storied PGA Tour career and it comes at a time when he was already still recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon in March.
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Woods’ injury timeline now reads as long as his major win count.
Although it sounds like his latest back surgery will only push him back several months in his recovery process, it does mean he is going to miss out on playing in at least one tournament all season for the first time since 2016.
Okay, we did see him bash balls into a giant screen during his TGL debut earlier this season.
Woods’ Hero World Challenge takes place in The Bahamas in early December but there’s no chance he’ll be back for that, and we don’t anticipate he’ll accompany his son Charlie Woods at the PNC Championship just before Christmas, even if it is a scramble format where he can ride in a golf cart.
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It certainly sounds like we’ll next see Woods as a 50-year-old veteran once again bashing balls into a screen at his tech-infused golf league on 13 January.
In his latest update on social media, Woods pleasingly confirmed he will be at all of Jupiter Links GC’s TGL fixtures in 2026.
I’ll be there for every match! Looking forward to seeing everyone on January 13th for our home opener. And @willlowerygolf, hands off my sticks!
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) October 16, 2025
Hopefully if he recovers well from his latest back surgery then we might even see him add a couple of PGA Tour events at Riviera and Bay Hill before The Masters from 9-12 April.
This will be his plan now – to finally build some competitive reps, especially ahead of the majors, in order to give things one final shot.
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The last time we heard from Woods in tournament mode, he expressed belief that he could still add to his haul of 15 major titles and potentially even catch 18-time record holder Jack Nicklaus.
Woods also told reporters last summer he would not be competing in the majors if he did not think he could still win them.
Only his results in 2024 suggested otherwise as he finished last of those that made the cut at The Masters before missing three straight cuts at the US PGA, US Open and The Open.
Tiger Woods
Of course who am I to tell Woods he is never going to win another major again, especially when he won The Masters in 2019 against all the odds.
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He’s been written off before remember.
But things just feel very different this time, six and half years on from that memorable day at Augusta National where Woods slipped on the famous green jacket for a fifth time.
So much has happened for Woods since then, and he is very fortunate to still be with us.
Woods nearly died in a car crash in Los Angeles in February 2021.
He had to undergo multiple surgeries for his right leg after that horror crash, including emergency surgery to stabilize his tibia and fibula with a rod.
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Woods then later had separate surgery in April 2023 for post-traumatic arthritis in his right ankle.
In 2024 there was some more back surgery to prevent spasms, and then this season he underwent surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon in March before further back surgery last week.
It’s all now taking its toll sadly.
Woods has not played a tournament all season
We must also not forget Woods hits the big 5-0 just before ringing in the New Year with his girlfriend Vanessa Trump.
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He’s certainly not getting any younger, and battling all these surgeries and ongoing niggles will be harder and harder on his body.
Even if he is golf superman.
Yes, turning 50 means Woods will be able to jump in a golf cart and peg it up on the PGA Tour Champions next season, but if truth be told I really don’t see him being that interested in doing it.
I might be wrong, he might love it out there and whizzing around in a golf cart etching his name on silverware until he’s 60 years old.
Let’s hope that happens.
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But this is Tiger Woods, a 15-time major champion with a joint-record 82 wins on the PGA Tour, who is battered and bruised.
Does he really need to go out there and prove himself on the seniors tour? Not for me.
A number of golf legends on the PGA Tour Champions such as Ernie Els have already challenged Woods to come and beat them next season, but they will say that when they know the prize purses would get pumped…
Woods has many business ventures
Another reason why Woods should step away from the game within the next two years is to not only to give his body a rest, but to also allow him to focus on his many other business ventures that are centered around his company, TGR Enterprises, which includes his philanthropic and for-profit ventures.
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Key ventures for Woods involve his golf course design company TGR Design, his technology-focused TGL and TMRW Sports in partnership with Rory McIlroy, his mini-golf chain PopStroke, and his restaurant The Woods Jupiter. He’s also in the mix to revolutionize American football at the moment.
Woods also founded his TGR Foundation way back in 1996 to support educational and professional development for young people, and he continues to work tirelessly on that project with his team.
If that wasn’t enough to keep him on his toes, Woods acts in a lead player chairman role on the PGA Tour.
Whether the PGA Tour’s future involves LIV Golf involvement and some Saudi Arabian cash remains to be seen, but Woods is certainly at the forefront of discussions on how the professional game can be unified again.
Stepping away from the game completely would allow Woods more time to work on improving PGA Tour and LIV Golf relations.
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If the Saudi PIF are going to listen to anyone then it’s going to be Tiger Woods, the man who is a huge reason why players are competing for the sums of cash they are today.
![Tiger Woods with Vanessa Trump [X / Twitter]](https://www.fogolf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/tiger-vanessa12.jpg)
Tiger Woods with Vanessa Trump [X / Twitter]
Other reasons for putting the clubs back in the garage could very well involve him just being happy for once, something we all wish for him.
Woods has endured a rollercoaster private life that is regularly in the public spotlight, but it finally sounds like he’s found love and happiness with his new partner Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr.
His children Charlie, 16, and Samantha, 18, are also excelling on the sporting scene, and Woods is very much a proud father.
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Charlie recorded his first AJGA victory at the Team TaylorMade Invitational earlier this season and he’s now vaulted into the top 10 in the rankings as he potentially eyes a future career on Tour, while Samantha is performing admirably on the soccer pitch.
Taking time away from the golf course would give him even more time to be a “sports dad”, something he loves to do when he can.
Woods with Nicklaus on the Swilcan Bridge in 2022
But at the end of the day, Woods doesn’t need to prove anything to any of us anymore.
Tiger is the greatest golfer of all time.
Sorry Jack.
Yes, it’s a mighty shame Woods is likely going to limp out the game soon, but let’s be honest his story could have ended far worse.
Woods will give things a good go over the next 12 months, I’m certain he won’t throw in the towel just yet, but my honest prediction for 20 months’ time is that he follows in the footsteps of fellow golf legend Nicklaus and bows out of competitive action at the Home of Golf.
The famous Old Course at St Andrews is also Woods’ favourite golf course in the world, and one where he has etched his name on the famous Claret Jug twice in 2000 and 2005.
Woods had something a practice run in 2022 (watch above) when making an emotional walk over the Swilcan Bridge when missing the cut at the 150th Open, but I think five years on from then it really will be the last hurrah.
Not just at The Open, but his pro career.
This to me would be the perfect sign off from tournament golf and one that would allow Woods to concentrate on his other ventures while leading a happy and peaceful family life out of the spotlight for once.
I’m tearing up already thinking about it.
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