In a bold statement that has fans buzzing, Tiger Woods recently remarked that his return to professional golf remains some time away, despite witnessing his Jupiter Links team achieve their first victory in the TGL Golf match on Monday.
Woods, who has an impressive record as a 15-time major champion, last competed in an official PGA Tour event back in July 2024, where he unfortunately missed the cut at The Open. Following that, he faced a challenging year, missing the entire 2025 season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained in March, along with a disc replacement surgery he underwent in October of the same year.
At 50 years old, Woods has only participated in 11 competitive events since his serious car accident in 2021, showcasing the difficulties he faces in being competitive while managing such a limited schedule.
When asked about his potential participation in the TGL this season, Woods responded, "Playing here? I don't know. I like watching these guys. As far as competitive golf, it's still some time." This comment clearly indicates that while he enjoys being part of the tournament atmosphere, he is not ready to return to the competitive scene just yet. Last year, Woods played in three out of four losses for the Jupiter Links in this innovative tech-driven tournament, and although he is listed on the 2026 roster, he had already decided against participating in the opening fixtures of the new season.
Looking ahead, Jupiter Links has only two more league matches scheduled for March 2 and March 4, before the semi-finals and finals later that month—if they make it into the top four—but Woods’ recent statements suggest he will not be part of the TGL for this season.
Interestingly, with his recent milestone birthday, Woods has the opportunity to compete on the PGA Tour Champions starting next season. This opens up the possibility for him to participate in either circuit once he has fully recovered from his injuries. Notably, he could utilize a golf cart during regular-season events on the Champions Tour, but he has tempered expectations regarding a swift return to play.
He shared, "I'm a way away from that part of it and that type of decision, that type of commitment level. Unfortunately, I've been through this rehab process before, it’s just step by step. Once I get a feel for practicing, exploding, playing, the recovery process, I can assess where I'm going to play and how much. I really haven't gone in depth on what the schedule looks like on the Champions Tour, except for a few tournaments."
In other news, Brooks Koepka generated excitement last week when he revealed that Woods was the first person he reached out to after his release from the LIV contract. Koepka, a five-time major champion, terminated his deal with the controversial Saudi-funded series a year early to spend more time with his family, highlighting the respect he has for Woods, who is not only a fellow competitor but also serves as chairman of the PGA Tour's Future Competitions Committee.
Woods commented on the possibility of Koepka joining the TGL next year, stating, "Brooks just got his feet wet being back on our Tour again at Torrey, and he's playing Waste Management this week. We've got one new team next year, and should have two. I don't know when it's going to be sewn up or not. But who knows. If Brooks is going to be on a team or not on a team, but we have a great team here. My boys here, we've had so much fun going back and forth, and these group texts are just awesome."
For those looking to catch the action, the PGA Tour will feature the WM Phoenix Open in Arizona starting this Thursday at 2:15 PM on Sky Sports Golf, followed by full coverage from 8:30 PM. Whether you want to subscribe to Sky Sports or stream without a contract on NOW, there's plenty of golf action to look forward to.
