Tiger Woods’ chances of playing the Masters this year are starting to look uncertain again. The latest update around TGL has raised fresh doubts.
According to TWLegion on X, Woods will not play in the opening match of the TGL finals with Kevin Kisner stepping in. The remaining matches are set for the next day if needed.
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That detail matters. TGL is not as physically demanding as a regular tournament. So if Woods is not playing there it does raise a fair question about whether he is ready for four full rounds at Augusta.
He also hasn’t played since The Open Championship in 2024 and there has been no warm-up event or competitive start leading into the Masters. That usually plays a big role especially after a long break.
At the same time there are still signs that keep the possibility open. The Masters website lists him as “making his 27th Masters start in 2026” which suggests he could still show up.
The tournament is set to take place from April 9 to 12 at Augusta National. Tiger Woods has a lifetime exemption as a past champion so entry is not an issue. For now it comes down to this. There has been talk of a return but the recent update only adds more doubt around whether it will actually happen.
Tiger Woods opens up on recovery ahead of possible return
While there is still uncertainty around his Masters appearance Tiger Woods did offer a glimpse into where he stands physically earlier this week.
He was present at the TGL match to support Jupiter Links Golf Club and spoke about his recovery during a post round interaction.
“I said I’ve been working on it,” Woods said. “Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad days. Disk replacement is not a lot of fun. So Will Zalatoris went through it, he had two levels done, and it takes time.
“So as I said, I’ve had a lot of procedures prior to that, so the body doesn’t quite heal like it was when I was 24. Doesn’t quite bounce back. So I have good days when I can pretty much do anything, and other days where it’s hard to just to move around…”
Tiger Woods underwent disc replacement surgery in October and has been focused on getting back to full fitness since then. His comments suggest progress but also underline the inconsistency in how his body is responding day to day.
That adds another layer to the question around Augusta. Even though he has a long history at the Masters going back to his debut as an amateur in 1995 this situation feels different.
He went on to win the tournament five times, including his breakthrough in 1997 and later victories in 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2019. His most recent start came in 2024 where he finished 60th.
For now his recovery remains the key factor. Until there is more clarity on that front, the question around his return is likely to stay open.
Edited by Sonali Verma
