Tiger Woods’ recent back surgery forced fans to once again postpone their hopes of seeing him play. Woods hadn’t even fully recovered from his torn Achilles tendon when he had to face this new injury.
Woods recently underwent lumbar disc replacement surgery, his seventh back surgical procedure. According to Golfweek, the recovery process could take anywhere from weeks to months. With such prospects, many are wondering when Woods will be able to return to the courses, or even if he will return at all.
Well, the legend has spoken: Woods has circled a date for his return to the golf spotlight, sort of. While he stopped short of confirming a competitive comeback, Woods announced he’ll be present for every Jupiter Links Golf Club match in the upcoming TGL season.
“I’ll be there for every match! Looking forward to seeing everyone on January 13th for our home opener,” Woods replied on X in response to a previous post by the team.
Woods has not played competitive golf since the start of the season, when he participated in his team’s first TGL matches. In December of last year, he played his most recent tournament on a golf course, finishing second in the PNC Championship, teaming up with his son Charlie.
His last official tournament to date was the 2024 Open Championship, where he missed the cut.
Fans had been excited about Woods’ possible return when videos were released of the 82-time major winner swinging golf clubs ahead of the Nexus Cup last September. He had previously been seen several times walking golf courses, accompanying Charlie at tournaments.
Just a few days ago, the field for the Hero World Challenge was announced, leaving three spots open for sponsor exemptions. It was expected that Woods could fill one of those spots if he completed his recovery from the Achilles tendon injury he suffered last March.
While his recent back surgery rules out any chance of seeing him compete in this year’s event, Woods could still make an appearance in a non-playing role. As tournament host, his presence remains a possibility, and, if his recovery allows, he may even be on hand to present the trophy to the winner.
As for competitive golf, it’s unlikely we’ll see Tiger Woods back on the course before the 2026 Masters, and even that feels optimistic.
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