Tiger Woods insisted live on Sky Sports that he still hopes to return to the majors at the Masters and is “trying” to get fit for next month’s Augusta National.
Woods has suffered a series of injuries since a career-threatening car accident in 2021, completing just four 72-hole tournaments and playing only 11 official matches in the past five years.
The 50-year-old has not played on the PGA Tour since missing out on the British Open in July 2024, underwent back surgery late that year, tore his Achilles tendon last spring and underwent disc replacement surgery in October.
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Check out the best shots of Tiger Woods, who made his return to TGL when Jupiter Links GC lost to Los Angeles Golf Club.
Woods played in the final night of the TGL season at Jupiter Links GC on Tuesday, losing 9-2 to Los Angeles GC, but it remains to be seen whether he will be able to play in this year’s opening major.
“(My body) doesn’t recover like it did when I was 24, 25,” Woods admitted. “It’s not like I’m not trying. I’ve been trying for a while. I’ve had some big injuries here over the last few years and I’ve had to fight through them and it’s taken time.
“I keep trying. I want to play. I love tournaments. I’ve loved going to tournaments since I was 19 years old. It’s meant a lot to me and my family over the years. I’m going to go to the Loop and Champions Dinner there either way.”
As for whether Woods will make a decision ahead of Masters week, he added: “I don’t know, but we’ll see. This week I’m going to practice, play at home and keep trying to progress.”
Tiger “Physically fine” as major season approaches
Woods replaced Kevin Kisner in the Jupiter Lynx lineup with Max Homa and Tom Kim, and he completed two drives of over 300 yards, including his trademark 318-yard stinger, and also hit a 272-yard three-wood to earn the hole.
The former world No. 1 hit just nine shots the entire match, including a missed putt from inside four feet, and Los Angeles fought back from a 2-0 deficit to win five straight holes with five holes remaining.
“Physically, I’m fine,” Woods insisted. “It’s just been interesting because usually when you’re actually playing a normal round of golf and hitting shots, you have more rhythm. Here, I feel like I’m a little frozen up sometimes.”
“I had to hit a few drives and then I had to hit a few putts. It was different for me because I’d never really done this before. I’ve seen them do it and they make it look easy. I haven’t done it in a while. But it was a lot of fun to be a part of it.”
Woods had not played in the TGL since March of the previous year due to injury.
Regarding the TGL loss, Woods added, “We got hit in the a**le at the end. We made three eagles in a row and we just couldn’t respond. We missed a short eagle to start the game and give us some momentum and we just couldn’t get it back.”
“I’m frustrated that we didn’t get it done. We had chances like we did last night, but we should have won that game and they attacked us at the end.”
When will Woods make his Masters decision?
Woods is listed as a past champion in the Masters berth, and there is no deadline to commit to this year’s contest, and there is still time to determine if he is physically fit to return.
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It’s been seven years since Tiger Woods shocked the world by winning the Masters. A look back at his iconic wins from 2019 with a selection of his best shots of the week.
He used the 2022 contest as a comeback from his previous injury, less than 14 months after sustaining severe foot and ankle injuries in a car accident, and fought his way to a 47th-place finish after scoring back-to-back weekends in the 78 range.
Woods withdrew before the final day of the 2023 tournament, which was won by Jon Rahm, but fell to the bottom of the leaderboard after the cold weather worsened plantar fasciitis in his foot, making it difficult for him to walk.
He had a record 24 consecutive cuts in the 2024 tournament, but carded the worst round of his major career with a third-round 82, finishing last among the players who won the weekend.
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Read the story of Tiger Woods’ worst round at a major tournament in 2024, when he shot a 10-over-par 82.
Woods missed the win over Rory McIlroy last year due to an Achilles injury and then missed the entire major season.
His five Masters wins came in 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2019, one win shy of Jack Nicklaus’ record of six at Augusta National.
Who will win the Masters? Watch the opening round of this year’s Major live on Sky Sports Golf from April 9th to 12th. Get and stream Sky Sports without a contract.
