Tiger Woods issues health update and gives telling response over Masters return
Ahead of the 2026 Genesis Invitational at The Riviera Country Club, Tiger Woods has given an update on his health and his hopes of playing in the Masters
Tiger Woods has revealed he still hopes he can compete in this year’s Masters – even though he hasn’t played in a PGA Tour event since July 2024. Woods last competed in an official PGA Tour event in July 2024 when he missed the cut at The Open.
The American also missed the entire 2025 season, having ruptured his Achilles in March before undergoing disc replacement in October. Woods has won the Masters five times in his storied career, with his most recent outing at Augusta coming in 2024.
And when asked ahead of the Genesis Invitational if competing at the upcoming Masters was ‘off the table’, the golf great simply replied: “No.”
Opening up on his comeback from injury, Woods revealed: “I’m trying, put it that way. The disc replacement has been one thing, it’s been a challenge.
“I entered a new decade, so that number is starting to sink in. Thinking about the opportunity to be able to play in a cart. I won’t do that out here on this tour because I don’t believe in it but on the Champions Tour there’s certainly an opportunity.”
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The 15-time Major champion also acknowledged that injury recovery has not been as easy as it was in his younger years, though he has ramped up to hitting full golf shots in his training.
“The Achilles is not an issue,” Woods revealed. “I can’t dunk a basketball anymore. As far as the disc replacement it’s just sore and it takes time.
“My body has been through a lot. It’s one of those things, each and every day I keep trying, keep progressing and working on it.
“I’m trying to get this body at a level where I can play the highest level again. Yeah, I’m able to (hit full shots), not well every day, but I can hit them.”
Woods also confirmed he has been asked to captain the US team at Ryder Cup next year. He said: “They have asked me for my input on it and I haven’t made my decision yet.
“I’m trying to figure out what we’re trying to do with our [PGA] tour. That’s been driving me hours upon hours every day and trying to figure out if I can actually do … our Team USA and our players and everyone that’s going to be involved in the Ryder Cup, if I can do it justice with my time.
“Serving on two boards and what I’m doing for the PGA Tour, I’m trying to figure out if I can actually do this and serve the people that are involved and serve them at an honourable level.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.
