There's been another big hint about Tiger Woods' return to golf by Kevin Kisner, as he explained why he was dropped from Woods' TGL team.

Kisner played for Tiger's Jupiter Links team for two years, but when the TGL season three rosters came out he was not included in the five-man line-up.

While explaining why he didn't make the team, and the rather cold manner he found out about it, Kisner also gave the biggest hint yet that Woods would be returning to action soon - with a full TGL schedule his big target.

Woods played just once in last season's TGL, taking part in the finals that Jupiter Links lost out to against Los Angeles.

Jupiter Links is bringing back Max Homa, Tom Kim and Akshay Bhatia to the roster, with Woods joined by new signing Kieth Mitchell to effectively replace Kisner.

And one of the reasons according to Kisner is that Woods is hoping to play a larger role in the simulator league this time around.

"Well, obviously, I'm not on the team anymore," Kisner said on Barstool's Fore Play podcast. "I had a two-year contract with Jupiter Links and then they, Tiger wants to play. And then they wanted to sign Keith Mitchell, which is totally fine with me.

"And I'm sure I'll still be involved in some sort of fashion at some point. Go down there and do some stuff for them. You know, the Bad News Bears are still going to be a part of my life, and hopefully they continue to win."

Such big news was dropped in not the best way for Kisner, with Tiger's manager Rob McNamara doing the deed by text, and apparently no word from Woods himself.

As Kisner revealed how it all went down, he revealed that Woods hopes to play a full part in TGL season three as he recovers from his latest injury and huge personal problems.

"Rob, Tiger's guy, he text me a long text last week, I think," added NBC analyst Kisner.

"Just telling me what they did on their decisions, how they were moving around and what players were going to do and that Tiger wanted to play a full schedule.”

When will Tiger Woods play again?

Woods looks to be making his latest comeback following his much-publicized time away from the sport - following the 50-year-old's crash in Florida in March which led to him receiving a five-year driving ban.

Also returning from injury, he's been spotted making swings on the range at the TGR Junior Invitational at Pebble Beach recently.

He's not played a professional tournament since the 2024 Open Championsnhip, but once again some familiar events could be earmarked for a comeback - the Hero World Challenge in December being one, with three places still available in the field.

Then there's the PNC Championship which he's played with son Charlie on multiple occasions, before TGL will begin and if Woods starts that season then everyone will look at the Genesis Invitational he hosts as a possible comeback or maybe even The Masters.

So Kisner's comments will be just the start of the latest 'When will Tiger Woods play again?' saga.

A fresh Tiger Woods swing video has surfaced online, sparking hopes that the 15-time Major champion could make another comeback to professional golf.

Woods, now 50, has not played competitively since he missed the cut at the 2024 Open at Royal Troon.

Since then, has has undergone two operations on his back and surgery to fix his ruptured Achilles.

He also recently stepped away from the game "for a period of time" to undergo rehabilitation treatment in Switzerland after he was arrested on suspicion of DUI following a car accident in March of this year.

Woods rolled his SUV while attempting to overtake a trailer in Florida and admitted to police officers he had taken a "few" prescription medications, while two prescription painkillers were also found in his pocket.

He returned from rehab in June and was banned from driving for five years and hit with a four-figure fine in September after he agreed a plea deal.

In his latest appearance, he has been spotted on the range at the Nexus Cup clipping a few balls away with a swing that, remarkably, still looks almost as good as ever.

The Nexus Cup is an exclusive two-day amateur event in New York that benefits Woods' TGR Foundation. It also gives those competing a chance to win prizes and get exclusive access to Woods, as well as other special guests.

With what looks like some sort of mid iron, he appears to be swinging the club well. How his body feels at the minute is anyone's guess, but he doesn't seem to be guarding against any pain in the video, albeit he isn't swinging at full speed.

Asked by the host on the range how he is feeling and where he is in his process, Woods' response gave more cause for optimism.

"I can hit pretty much anything," he said.

What it all means in the long run for Woods remains to be seen. If a comeback is on his radar, he could be targeting the Hero World Challenge at the end of November, with a view to also competing alongside his son Charlie at the PNC Championship in late December.

Woods missed last year's PNC Championship due to back surgery but he and Charlie have twice finished second: in 2024 and 2021.

President Trump has voiced his support for Tiger Woods following the 15-time Major winner's five-year driving license suspension.

Woods appeared in a south Florida courtroom on Wednesday to change his plea and accepted a plea to reckless driving and careless driving, having previously denied a driving under the influence charge following his car accident in March.

Judge Darren Steele accepted the plea and handed out a five-year driving ban to Woods, fined him a total of $1,500 and warned: “If you drive for any reason at all, you will be going back to jail.”

Woods was supported on the day by his girlfriend Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr.

Later, President Trump was asked about Woods' court visit and said he thought it was "very fair."

The 45th and 47th President of the United States, an avid golfer, said Woods was a "great guy" and even revealed he had previously told him to get a driver instead of getting behind the wheel himself. Trump also said Woods had a "bad" doctor in his opinion.

“I know Tiger very well. He’s a great guy," Trump told media in the White House.

“He’s unique in so many ways, especially as an athlete, but also as a man. He suffers great pain, great pain. It’s a very tough situation because they didn’t find alcohol on him. He didn’t test positive at all for alcohol.

“But because of his horrible back – he had, in my opinion, a bad doctor – but he had a back operation that did not work out well. And he is under pain. And so, it’s a tough deal when you’re taking a painkiller because you’re under pain and tremendous pain and you have a problem and you test positive.

“He would have told him that. I mean, it’s a prescription painkiller, but I thought it was very fair.

“I think, he’s going to have somebody drive him. I told him that a long time [ago], 'Why don’t you get somebody to drive you?' So, he’s going to have somebody drive him from now on. He’s just a very special guy. I’m glad that was resolved.”

Trump, who presented Woods with the Presidential Medal of Freedom following his Masters victory in 2019, wasn't the only politician to comment on the news.

Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida, replied to a social media post following a press conference question asking whether Woods will still be allowed to drive a golf cart - something he may wish to do at the PNC Championship later this year and in other future PGA Tour Champions events.

"Tiger should be able to drive a golf cart on the golf course," DeSantis wrote, before continuing: "People that lose their license aren’t typically barred from driving a golf cart on a golf course."

Tiger Woods has been banned from driving for five years and hit with a four-figure fine following charges related to his Florida crash back in March.

Woods was arrested on March 27 after rolling his SUV down the 30mph South Beach Road near his home on Jupiter Island.

At the time, the 50-year-old was charged with a DUI, property damage and refusal to submit a lawful test while he was also given a citation for reckless driving.

Officers had initially found Woods "sweating profusely" and "sluggish" in his movement near the wreckage of his Land Rover.

Following a trip to hospital for medical clearance, Woods was arrested and taken to Martin County jail before being released shortly before midnight.

In the weeks that followed, Woods pleaded not guilty to all three charges and was granted permission to travel to Switzerland where he spent almost three full months at a specialist rehabilitation center.

Before traveling to Europe, Woods wrote on social media: "I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today.

"I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health.

"This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery."

Having returned in June, the 15-time Major winner was due to appear at Martin County Courtroom in Stuart, Florida on Wednesday, September 2 for the next stage of legal proceedings.

However, it was first reported by the BBC hours before the 8:30am hearing that Woods was planning to change his earlier not-guilty plea and the end of the case could theoretically be reached immediately.

In front of Judge Darren Steele on Wednesday morning, it was revealed the legal teams involved on both sides had reached an agreement whereby Woods would enter a guilty plea and the original charges would be reduced to reckless driving and careless driving.

Judge Steele handed out a five-year driving ban to Woods, fined him a total of $1,500 and told the pro golfer: “If you drive for any reason at all, you will be going back to jail.”

Woods was supported on the day by his girlfriend Vanessa Trump, who he occasionally looked for behind him in the courtroom during the 10-minute process, and his attorney Douglas Duncan.

Woods, Trump and the golfer's legal counsel were seen smiling and talking once the ruling had been made.

It is not known when Woods will next be seen in the public eye, with his most recent appearance coming at the launch of the PGA Tour's new two-tier system which is due to arrive in 2028.

Tiger Woods has become very used to sitting at the top of all-time lists through the years.

Among the records he holds either outright or shares are the highest number of PGA Tour victories, the number of consecutive cuts made, total weeks as World No.1 and consecutive weeks at the top of the world rankings.

Another list Woods sits proudly at the top of is the PGA Tour career money list, which tallies the total money he has earned on the circuit since his first professional start at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open.

In fact, Woods has held the top spot for more than a quarter of a century - or February 13, 2000, to be precise, after he won $264,000 for his T2 finish at the Buick Invitational. However, he is in serious danger of losing that position in just a few days.

Woods’s overall PGA Tour career earnings stand at $120,999,166. His nearest rival is Scottie Scheffler, who is now just $608,505 away from Woods’s total, with career earnings of $120,390,661.

The World No.1 even had a chance to surpass the 15-time Major winner at the BMW Championship.

At the Bellerive event, Scheffler would have overtaken Woods had he finished third to collect prize money of $1,300,000.

Not that he will be too worried about eventually catching the living legend. Indeed, he would do that if he finishes solo 13th or better at the Tour Championship, although it may not be enough to go top of the career money list.

The reason finishing that high up the East Lake leaderboard may stop him from taking the top spot is that another player also has the chance to surpass Woods at the event.

Rory McIlroy is third on the PGA Tour career money list with overall earnings of $117,848,372.

That was boosted by $1,360,000 for his finish of third at the BMW Championship, leaving him $3,150,794 short of Woods’s total.

With a purse of $40m at the Tour Championship, it leaves plenty of scope for McIlroy to climb to the top of the money list, depending on Scheffler’s performance.

To have a chance, he’ll need to finish no worse than solo fourth, which would earn him prize money of $3,200,000.

If we assume McIlroy finishes in that position, it won’t be enough to reach the top of the career money list if Scheffler places solo 11th or better.

However, there is one way for McIlroy to guarantee becoming the first player to knock Woods off the top spot for over 26 years - winning the Tour Championship.

Should McIlroy achieve that, and claim his fourth FedExCup title in the process, he'll earn $10,000,000, meaning even if Scheffler places solo second to earn $5,000,000, it won't be enough to catch the six-time Major winner.

Whatever the permutations at East Lake, it is surely only a matter of time until both Scheffler and McIlroy overtake Woods, with the only debate over which one will reach the top first.

That’s because in recent years, Woods's PGA Tour schedule has become increasingly limited due to a succession of injuries.

Meanwhile, he hasn’t played at all in 2026 following a spell in rehab after being involved in a car accident in March.

PGA Tour Career Money List Top 10

Tiger Woods has delivered a heartfelt tribute to Notah Begay at the Payne Stewart Award Ceremony.

Begay, who was named the 2026 recipient of the award in July, was in attendance at the ceremony on Tuesday evening in Atlanta.

There, he received the honor in recognition of his character, sportsmanship and commitment to charitable giving.

Woods, who played college golf alongside Begay at Stanford, appeared via video to congratulate his longtime friend and began by reminiscing about their first meeting.

He said: “Hey Notah. It’s been an unbelievable ride with you. You first came into my life when I was 11 years old playing in a Junior World and you came over to watch me play and our friendship has started there and it’s never ended.”

As well as his success on the course, where he won four times on the PGA Tour between 1999 and 2000, Begay, who is one of the few Native Americans to play golf professionally, is known for his philanthropic work within Native American communities.

That includes founding the non-profit Notah Begay III Foundation, whose goal is to provide health and wellness education to Native American youths via soccer and golf programs.

Woods paid tribute to that work, adding: “To see what you’ve done off the golf course… I know you’ve won four times on the tour, playing in the Presidents Cup.

"Actually, we played together in the Presidents Cup, but to see what you’ve done off the course and for your local native American communities.

"You helped over 80,000 youths and their families, which is absolutely incredible. What an amazing job – the sports complex in San Felipe.

“You’ve done an amazing job, and I just think that more… more people need to know what you’ve done and how you’ve served and you’ve given back to the tribal lands and what you have done.

“Because there are so many people out there who are struggling in those communities and you’re trying to raise the bar to allow them to go ahead and achieve a lot more in life and have the successes that I think they deserve and you feel like they deserve.”

Woods, who was a teammate of Begay at the 2000 Presidents Cup, concluded: “But again, thank you for coming to see me play. Thank you for getting our friendship started, and I love you, dude.”

This Week In Golf: Our regular look at the biggest stories in professional golf, tournament previews and other key details you need to know about the days ahead.

It was an unusually quiet week for this stage of the season last time out with only two tournaments and the US Senior Open on the biggest men's circuits and only one event in the women's game.

Nevertheless, there were exciting finishes in the John Deere Classic and BMW International Open as well as runaway victories for Carolina Chacarra on the LET and Padraig Harrington at the US Senior Open.

This time around, the number of tournaments on the schedule remains modest but there are a couple of huge events to sink your teeth into coming up.

And as always, there's plenty going on away from the course too as plans for the rest of this year and beyond begin to take shape.

So, without further ado, here is what is coming up in golf this week as well as a handful of key storylines to have already taken place.

TIGER WOODS-BACKED COMPANY SOLD

First reported by Front Office Sports' David Rumsey, Golf simulator company Full Swing has been sold to Versant - the parent company of Golf Channel - for a cool $530 million.

Full Swing, which saw investment from Tiger Woods back in 2015 and has boasted the 15-time Major winner as an ambassador ever since, has been used in TGL during its first two seasons and received a mixed response from players and fans alike due to its perceived lack of accuracy in some cases.

The official simulator of the PGA Tour, which welcomed investment by Jon Rahm too, has been owned by Bruin Capital since 2021, when it purchased Full Swing for $160 million.

SERGIO GARCIA PLANNING DP WORLD TOUR RETURN

Sergio Garcia announced plans to make his latest DP World Tour return in 2027 at the BMW International Open last weekend.

Garcia, who originally left for LIV Golf in 2022 before dropping his DP World Tour membership - only to re-apply ahead of the 2025 campaign and once again rescind it at the end of the year - confirmed his plans after missing the cut in Germany.

The 2017 Masters champion also revealed he plans to play a few more events this season, which is likely to include the Spanish Open in October.

Speaking to reporters on-site at the BMW International Open on Friday, he said: "It’s obviously something that I’ve always said that I wanted to do and I’m trying to do the best I can there.

"Obviously, at 46, I can’t play 30 events a year, but I’m going to make an effort to see if I can at least play a handful and try to do my best there.”

Garcia is the latest European legend to pursue re-joining the DP World Tour after Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter settled significant fines earlier this year.

LIV WINNER WITHDRAWS FROM THE OPEN

LIV Golf Riyadh winner Elvis Smylie has withdrawn from The Open Championship next week.

Smylie, who claimed his maiden LIV title on debut in Saudi Arabia in February, has endured a tough season otherwise and last played at the European Tour's Italian Open a fortnight ago where he ended T41st.

The left-hander was due to make his third consecutive Open appearance at Royal Birkdale, but a possible injury may have robbed him of the chance in 2026.

Smylie made his Open debut at Royal Troon in 2024 but has missed the cut in both Major appearances on links golf courses, with further disappointment arriving at Royal Portrush last year.

15 PLAYERS EARN OPEN SPOTS

A group of 15 golfers, including Sahith Theegala, Max Homa and David Puig, have earned spots into The Open Championship through the OWGR.

The late confirmations were the highest placed non-exempt players in the Official World Golf Ranking as of Monday, 6 July.

The full list includes; Sam Stevens, Nico Echavarria, Pierceson Coody, Ryo Hisatsune, Michael Brennan, David Puig, Tom Kim, Eric Cole, Keith Mitchell, Matt Wallace, Sami Valimaki, Max Homa, Thomas Detry, Max Greyserman and Sahith Theegala.

At this stage, the reserves for The Open are Aldrich Potgieter and Matti Schmid. There will also be three places at Royal Birkdale up for grabs via the Genesis Scottish Open this week.

Meanwhile, the final place will be on offer at the Last-Chance Qualifier at Royal Birkdale on Monday, July 13.

THE OPEN TICKET BALLOT IS LIVE

The 154th Open is yet to take place at Royal Birkdale, but the ticket ballot for the 155th Open at St Andrews is already live.

Anyone who is a One Club member, The R&A's free-to-join membership program, can apply for tickets until 3pm BST on Friday, July 24, 2026. You are able to apply for up to four tickets per day, which includes adult, youth, junior and carer passes.

According to The R&A, adding on a practice day may improve your chances of success, but applications can still prove to be fully successful, partially successful or completely unsuccessful, depending on ticket availability.

Under-16s are free throughout the week, while junior prices start from £20 and increase all the way to £95 on Championship Sunday. Adult tickets cost between £40 and £190, depending on the day you apply for.

GENESIS SCOTTISH OPEN

A bumper field is ready to compete at the Genesis Scottish Open this week as the PGA Tour and DP World Tour collide outside of a Major.

The co-sanctioned event features a $9 million tournament purse and provides players with a competitive taste of what's to come at Royal Birkdale where the final men's Major of the season is on the line.

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler is at The Renaissance Club, as are Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, but there are a number of big names missing the Genesis Scottish Open this time around.

In addition, Jon Rahm heads a long list of LIV golfers who will be making their first PGA Tour start since departing the tour, adding more intrigue to an already fascinating tournament.

AMUNDI EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Following a superb conclusion to the Amundi Evian Championship in 2025, where Grace Kim stunned Jeeno Thitikul in a playoff, expectations are high regarding another immensely entertaining event in France this year.

The season's fourth and penultimate women's Major began life on the biggest stage in 2000, where it has since been won by the likes of Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb and Lydia Ko.

Kim defends at Evian Resort Golf Club while Thitikul will be hoping to break her curious Major duck at the championship at which she has come closest so far.

To do so, the Thai star will have to hold off World No.1 Nelly Korda as well as other powerhouses such as Hyo Joo Kim, Charley Hull and Lottie Woad.

There is also a $9.1 million tournament purse up for grabs, which is slightly higher than the amount on offer in the PGA Tour and DP World Tour's Genesis Scottish Open.

ISCO CHAMPIONSHIP

Playing opposite the Genesis Scottish Open this week is the ISCO Championship at Hurstbourne Country Club in Lousiville, Kentucky.

Anyone who is a member of the PGA Tour or DP World Tour and doesn't qualify for the links-based tournament has the option of competing on US soil instead.

There are six players inside the world's top-100 teeing it up at the $4 million event, with Max Homa, Patrick Rodgers and Lucas Glover leading the charge.

Defending champion William Mouw is also playing, as are Ben Kohles and Lee Hodges, both of whom came close to earning a maiden PGA Tour victory at the John Deere Classic last week.

WHAT ELSE TO KNOW

• Ian Poulter's son Luke has earned his first PGA Tour start next year after a successful week at the Arnold Palmer Cup
• Chris Gotterup is back inside the World's top-10 and up to seventh following his win at the John Deere Classic
• Tony Finau was among six players to withdraw from the Genesis Scottish Open in the build-up
• Joaquin Niemann returned to the world's top-50 for the first time in three years following his latest top-10 on the DP World Tour
• The 12-man field for The Open's Last-Chance Qualifier has been announced, with names such as Wesley Bryan, Angel Hidalgo and Aldrich Potgieter involved

Player behavior is a hot topic right now, with Joaquin Niemann the latest to suffer at the hands of the USGA code of conduct, but that's not a bad thing.

Brandel Chamblee has been discussing the way players act, in particular their foul language and propensity for throwing clubs in anger, and he thinks it's about time punishments were handed out.

With Niemann given a two-stroke penalty in the first round of this year's US Open, perhaps players will think twice before they lash out in frustration.

Chamblee reflected on the legendary players of many decades ago, insisting that the kind of behaviour we see today was simply not a thing in the past.

"I never saw Jack Nicklaus throw a club. Never heard him yell an F bomb. Never heard a profane word from him on the golf course," Chamblee told Golf Channel.

"Never saw Palmer do it. Never Tom Watson. Pick your player. Greg Norman, all the bad losses he had, he never threw a club, never swore. Say what you like about Phil Mickelson, but I’ve never seen him throw a club or drop an F bomb," he added.

Times have changed, though, and Chamblee seemed to suggest Tiger Woods may have been the catalyst for a new breed of golfer today.

Chamblee continued: "The same wasn’t true about Tiger Woods. One of the best players ever, we all love him, everybody got rich off him, but he was one of the most profane golfers to ever play the game.

"Nobody ever criticized him, he skated through… they did to some extent but it wasn’t prolific and he wasn’t held to account the way Wyndham Clark was last year when he broke that locker."

Highlighting the various players he has witnessed acting inappropriately, Chamblee added: "Everybody that’s playing now watched Tiger… and it rains F bombs on the PGA Tour.

"Clubs get thrown all the time. Tee markers get destroyed. Players have all the power in the world, nobody reigns them in. I always thought you would get fined for profanity on the PGA Tour, but I guess not. When you watch it’s F bomb after F bomb.

"Jon Rahm missed a putt and screamed the F word as loud as he could. I’m no prude, I’ve played golf, I understand how crazy it gets and I’ve done it, too, of course. But not if I was on TV. These guys are on video everywhere they go. They have a bigger burden than we had, but with that comes unimaginable wealth. It goes with the scrutiny."

The introduction of a new, sterner code of conduct in golf is applauded by Chamblee, who believes the game has changed for the better in the wake of some high-profile transgressions over the last year.

"Composure is a skill. And it’s lazy to throw clubs and drop F bombs when you know the world is watching. There are people watching with their kids," he said. "It’s great that the code of conduct has been passed and that it’s sending a message to the players."

"What Sergio Garcia did at Augusta National, it sent a message," Chamblee stated. "Everyone drew a line last year at the US Open, with Wyndham Clark, and Rory McIlroy tearing up a tee marker. These guys have run amok and it’s great that the code of conduct has been put in place."

First reported by Page Six, Tiger Woods has reportedly checked out of a rehabilitation center in Switzerland, three months on from his car crash in Florida.

Pictured arriving back in the States on Friday, Woods returned home with one notable feature missing - the compression sleeve, which has previously been spotted regularly on his right leg.

Back at the end of March, Woods flipped his car onto its side after clipping the trailor of a vehicle turning left in front of him.

Following the car crash, the 50-year-old was arrested and charged for Driving Under the Influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. Woods has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Shortly after the incident, Woods then announced he was "stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health," flying to a rehab facility in Switzerland.

The treatment was to last three months but, following the news of his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump's breast cancer diagnosis, Woods returned to Florida at the end of May, before flying back to Switzerland shortly after.

Now, in mid-June, his treatment appears to have finished as he returns back to the United States.

In terms of when we might see Woods back in a competitive environment, that is yet to be confirmed.

At the end of May, it was reported that the American hadn't entered The Open Championship, meaning he would miss all four Majors for a second straight season.

Woods did appear on a poster promoting the Baycurrent Classic, a PGA Tour event staged in Japan. The full field is yet to be confirmed for that tournament, which takes place in October.

It looks like Tiger Woods will again miss all four Majors in a year, throwing more doubt on his ability to continue his career at the highest level.

There's been plenty of highs and lows in the twilight of Woods' career, and for every seemingly knockout blow there's been an epic comeback by the 15-time Major champion.

He climbed off the canvas to win the 2019 Masters, while just playing professionally again was a triumph of spirit and determination after his 2021 car crash.

But his latest DUI arrest and subsequent visit to rehab could just be final straw - with Woods now set to miss all four Majors for the second year in a row.

Phil Mickelson is said to have put his name down for the 2026 Open, but his appearance in any golf tournament right now is in serious doubt.

Woods missed The Masters right after his latest DUI arrest in Florida, and also pulled out of the PGA Championship as a result.

The 50-year-old isn't exempt for the US Open and Sports Illustrated's Bob Harig now reports he's not entered The Open despite being able to play until he turns 60 as a former champion.

The R&A has not yet released the official start list for the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July, but it's believed Woods' name is not on it.

Even for a story filled with the extreme peaks and troughs such as Woods', the recent changes in fortune have been monumental.

A seventh back surgery last October threw his entire career into jeopardy yet again, but early in 2026 the signs were positive.

Until it all came crashing down around him yet again.

Can Woods recover from latest career blow?

Woods was making positive noises about getting back into tournament golf, making an appearance in TGL and saying he was doing everything he could to be sharp enough to play in The Masters.

Off the course he was leading the Future Competition Committee that was shaping the future of the PGA Tour and was just weighing up whether he could also fit in the small manner of being Ryder Cup captain in 2027.

Many thought he'd make another big comeback at Augusta National, but instead he's taken another break from all things golf to try and put his personal issues right.

By missing both the US Open and The Open it'll make it just eight Majors in six years for Woods - with four missed cuts and two withdrawals.

His last appearance was the 2024 Open at Royal Troon and last top 10 was his Masters victory in 2019 - all things point to Woods finally running out of comebacks.

Will Phil Mickelson return to golf at The Open?

Harig reports that while Woods hasn't entered The Open, Mickelson has - although he's currently absent from golf as he deals with a family health matter.

The 55-year-old has played just one LIV Golf event this year and did not appear in either The Masters or PGA Championship.

He's a six-time major champion but obviously has not claimed the US Open so is not exempt, and all signs point to him not getting a special invite for Shinnecock Hills even if he was able to play.

A Claret Jug winner in 2013 at Muirfield, Mickelson can compete in The Open for another five years but even though he's entered it's unlikely he will make the trip to Birkdale at present.

The question of when Tiger Woods will return to competition play has been on the minds of many golf fans... and that answer may have become clearer.

On Tuesday morning, the Baycurrent Classic, a PGA Tour event staged in Japan, posted a promotional poster to its social media pages, with Woods part of the four man line-up.

How does this refer to a potential return for the 15-time Major winner, you may ask? Well, the caption read: "The world's top players are coming to #YokohamaCC again this year!"

Taking place October 8-11th, the event is a FedEx Cup Fall tournament, and has been won by some big names previously,

Woods claimed the inaugural competition back in 2019, which just so happened to be his last PGA Tour win and equaled Sam Snead's record of 82 victories on the circuit.

Since then, Hideki Matsuyama, Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa are among the notable players to add themselves to the Roll of Honor.

Taking place in just under five months time, the full field for the Baycurrent Classic hasn't be released yet but, certainly, from the social media post, it certainly implies that Woods might be attending and competing.

Outside of the Majors, the Genesis Invitational and the Hero World Challenge, the Baycurrent Classic (previously Zozo Championship) was the last PGA Tour event that Woods played in, firing rounds of 76, 66, 71 and 74 to finish T72nd back in 2020.

Injuries have continued to plague the American since and, in October 2025, he underwent L4-L5 disc replacement surgery on his lumbar spine, which put him out for the rest of the year.

He had been aiming for a return to professional golf at The Masters in April of this year but, in March, he flipped his car onto its side after clipping the trailor of a vehicle turning left in front of him.

A few days after the incident, Woods then announced he was "stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health."

Flying to a rehab facility in Switzerland, the 50-year-old returned to Florida after six weeks, with the arrival coming just a week before his girlfriend Vanessa Trump revealed a breast cancer diagnosis.

According to reports, Woods then returned to the rehab facility, allowing him to resume the three-month treatment.

Time will tell if, or when, Woods returns to the golf course, or indeed if he will playing at the Baycurrent Classic in October, which would take place around three months after the completion of his rehab.

Tiger Woods has reportedly returned to Switzerland to resume his spell in rehab.

The 15-time Major winner initially checked into the facility in early April following a car crash on March 27th.

However, following six weeks of treatment, he landed back in Florida in mid-May, where he was photographed by TMZ disembarking from his private jet at Palm Beach International following the flight from Zurich.

As first reported by Golfweek's Adam Schupak, according to Celebplanes.com, on Sunday May 24th, his private jet arrived back at Zurich Airport, allowing Woods to resume the three-month treatment.

It is not confirmed why Woods returned to Florida, although his arrival came just a week before his girlfriend Vanessa Trump revealed a breast cancer diagnosis.

Trump announced the news on Instagram, writing: “I am staying focused and hopeful while surrounded by the love and support of my family, my kids, and those closest to me."

Page Six also reported that, during his spell back at home, Woods attended the graduation of Vanessa’s daughter, Kai Trump, who is the granddaughter of US President Donald Trump.

Following the car crash that led to Woods’ spell in rehab, he was arrested and charged for Driving Under the Influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. Woods has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He is said to have clipped the back end of a pressure cleaner vehicle's trailer while trying to overtake it "at high speed" before his car rolled onto its side and slid down the road close to his Jupiter mansion.

Woods was taken to the Martin County Jail before being released on bail that evening.

The Martin County Sheriffs said they believed Woods was "lethargic" and "intoxicated" when they arrived at the scene of the accident. However, Woods blew 0 on a breathalyzer test but then refused a urine analysis.

Police confirmed no drugs or medication were found in the car.

Days after the crash, Woods announced he was stepping back from golf. In a statement, he wrote: “I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today.

"I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.

“I'm committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally.

"I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time.”

After an incredible third day at Aronimink, the 2026 PGA Championship is perfectly poised on Sunday, with dozens of golfers still in with a chance of winning the tournament.

One of those players within touching distance of the lead is Rory McIlroy. Despite scoring 74 on Thursday, McIlroy has gone three-under and four-under in the past two days and started Sunday three strokes back of leader Alex Smalley.

After his monumental win at Augusta last month, another Major victory here for McIlroy would naturally help to elevate him in the pantheon of the greatest golfers of all time.

Adding the Wanamaker Trophy to his collection for a second time would see McIlroy surpass Sir Nick Faldo with seven Major titles.

But, it would also put him on the list of golfers who have previously won the first two Majors of the year — a list which currently only features six players.

No one has ever won the first three Majors in a row during a season, but here are the legends to have won the first two.

Which Golfers Have Won The First Two Majors Of Any Year?

Craig Wood was the first man to go back-to-back in the Majors at the start of a golfing season. That was way back in 1941.

Incredibly, before that, Wood had a horrible record at the Majors, having lost playoffs in all four events. His luck changed, though, when he won The Masters by three strokes over Byron Nelson, and then went on to win the US Open by three over Denny Shute.

Eight years later, Sam Snead matched that feat. He won the 1949 Masters by three strokes, having clawed back a one-shot deficit heading into the final day.

Snead then won the PGA Championship, which used the match play format at the time. He almost got the hattrick, too, but a birdie chance turned into a par on the final hole at the US Open and the opportunity for a playoff evaded Snead. He would never go on to win the US Open throughout his career.

Ben Hogan is the standout name on this already impressive list — he's the only man to have won the first two Majors in two separate years, doing the Masters-US Open double in both 1951 and 1953.

What's even more impressive is that, in 1953, Hogan actually went on to lift the Claret Jug to claim a third consecutive Major win that year. However, the PGA Championship and The Open schedule overlapped that year, with the former finishing just as the latter was starting.

Essentially, Hogan had to choose one Major or the other, and he often skipped the PGA Championship at that time.

The legendary Arnold Palmer was the first man to truly chase down the single-season Grand Slam. After winning The Masters and the US Open in 1960, Palmer decided to play The Open and try to make it three in a row — he ultimately fell just short, coming second at St. Andrews — but it was at this point that he insisted the Grand Slam should comprise of the four events we consider today.

It should come as no surprise that Jack Nicklaus is on this list.

In what was arguably his greatest year of golf, 1972, Nicklaus claimed The Masters title by three strokes, and later won the US Open at Pebble Beach by the same margin.

A rollercoaster ride at The Open had Nicklaus looking down and out by day three, but a blistering final round of 66 saw him take the clubhouse lead. He was trumped by long-time rival Lee Trevino in the end, and denied the hattrick of Majors.

Another far from surprising member of this elite club is Tiger Woods. What is surprising, perhaps, is that he only managed to win the season's first two Majors on one occasion.

That was in 2002, when he defeated Retief Goosen in the Masters by three strokes, and bested Phil Mickelson in the US Open. He ended up being nowhere near the third Major, though, shooting a career-worst 81 on day three of The Open to well and truly throw away the single-season Grand Slam dream.

It was probably some semblance of a consolation that, prior to The Open, Woods was the holder of all four Majors at the same time.

The most recent man to win the first two Majors in a single season was Jordan Spieth. 2015 was an immense year for Spieth, who sealed the Masters-US Open double to really announce himself as one of the best in the sport.

He very nearly made it three Majors in the same year, too, finishing T4th at The Open but just one stroke away from being involved in a playoff with Zach Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen, and Marc Leishman.

Rory McIlroy is already one of just six golfers to have completed the career Grand Slam thanks to his triumph at Augusta last year. He's undoubtedly one of the best to ever play the sport, but joining this list by winning the PGA Championship would really cement him as a true legend.

Claiming the coveted PGA Championship title is one of the four steps any golfer needs to take if they want to become a Grand Slam winner.

The second Major of the golfing season is unique in that it's the only Major that only allows professionals to compete, giving it an extra air of prestige.

The event has been running since way back in 1916, when a match play format was used, before converting to strokeplay in 1958 and becoming the tournament we know and love today.

Of course, with great prestige comes great payouts, and the PGA Championship purse is naturally among the biggest in the golfing world.

Winning the Wanamaker Trophy is one thing, but landing a share of the huge purse is a very nice bonus indeed.

While Jack Nicklaus holds the records for the most wins at the PGA Championship (during the strokeplay era), he doesn't come close to featuring on the all-time list of top earners from the event.

Interestingly, when we look at the top 10 earners in PGA Championship history, there are two golfers who haven't actually won the tournament.

Justin Rose takes tenth place, with earnings of $3,540,011 across a whopping 23 events. The British star's best finish at the PGA Championship was a tie for third back in 2012, which earned him $384,500.

Bryson DeChambeau is also on the list in seventh with earnings of $4,636,217. He's racked up that impressive amount from just eight involvements in the PGA Championship, with back-to-back second place finishes in 2024 and 2025 earning him $2,837,332 alone.

It probably doesn't come as much of a surprise, at least when you really think about it, that Brooks Koepka is at the top of the PGA Championship money list. He's won the tournament more than anyone else in the past couple of decades with three triumphs coming in 2018, 2019, and 2023.

Koepka is clear out in front, too, with earnings of $9,456,726 from 13 events putting him well ahead of Tiger Woods, who comes in second place with winnings of $7,354,862 from 23 events.

Woods did win the tournament four times (in 1999, 2000, 2006, and 2007), but the money on offer back then is nothing compared to where the game of golf is now.

With 32 involvements, Phil Mickelson is the golfer in the top 10 who has featured in the PGA Championship the most, and his earnings of $6,510,066 put him third in the all-time list.

That's not much of a shock considering Lefty also made the cut in 27 out of those 32 events with two victories.

He's followed by another two-time winner, Rory McIlroy. His wins in 2012 and 2014 earned him a combined $3,245,000 towards his total of $6,349,228 over the years.

Rounding out the top five is 2025 PGA Championship winner Scottie Scheffler. That win secured Scheffler $3.42m last year, and he's already earned $6,152,768 from just six events.

The rest of the top 10 includes Justin Thomas ($5,672,581) thanks to his two victories at the PGA Championship in 2017 and 2022.

2015 champion Jason Day ($4,369,608) is in eighth place and Xander Schauffele, who won in 2024, comes in ninth with earnings of $4,363,822 across nine involvements in the PGA Championship.

Another triumph this year for McIlroy or Scheffler would send them to the top of the pile ahead of Koepka, but that man will be desperate to add a fourth title to his name and extend his lead at the top of the money list.

On the eve of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, further south, four-time winner Tiger Woods arrived back in Florida after a six-week stint at a rehab facility in Switzerland.

The 50-year-old was photographed by TMZ disembarking from his private jet at Palm Beach International on Wednesday evening following a flight from Zurich.

Woods checked into the facility in early April in the aftermath of a car crash in March, for which he was arrested and charged for Driving Under the Influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. Woods has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The crash happened on March 27th when he was driving solo in a Land Rover. He is said to have clipped the back end of a pressure cleaner vehicle's trailer while trying to overtake it "at high speed" before his car rolled onto its side and slid down the road close to his Jupiter mansion.

Woods was taken to the Martin County Jail before being released on bail that evening.

The Martin County Sheriffs said they believed Woods was "lethargic" and "intoxicated" when they arrived at the scene of the accident. However, Woods blew 0 on a breathalyzer test but then refused a urine analysis.

Police confirmed no drugs or medication were found in the car.

The incident occurred three days after Woods made his long-awaited return to competitive action following back surgery in October, playing for his Jupiter Links GC team in the Florida-based TGL.

At that stage, there was still hope that he would be fit for The Masters, which began on April 9th.

Following the crash, that possibility appeared in tatters and less than a week later, Woods confirmed in a statement that his latest comeback attempt was being shelved indefinitely as he stepped away from golf.

He wrote: “I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today.

"I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.

“I'm committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally.

"I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time.”

Earlier this week, a judge ruled that the State can access information on Woods' prescription drugs record. However, they will only be seen by prosecutors, expert witnesses, law enforcement and Woods’ team.

April is not only Masters month for the world of golf, it's also a time to reflect on the past financial year and see which golfers have earned the most money.

With massive prize funds given out each week across the PGA Tour, the LIV Golf League and the DP World Tour, the best players in the world are racking up huge bank balances throughout the season.

Rory McIlroy has just added another $4.5m to his career earnings thanks to his incredible triumph at Augusta National. That'll give him a nice head start for next year's totals, but it doesn't help him surpass one other golfer for the 2025-26 tax year.

The data comes from Sportico, breaking down the earnings of the top-10 highest paid golfers in the world, with details as to how much they earned on the course and off it through sponsorship deals and the like.

McIlroy was in the top two, and led the way in off-course income, but it's actually Jon Rahm who earned the most in total for the last year.

Rahm benefits massively from his contract with LIV, of course. It is though the Spaniard was offered $300m to join the breakaway tour, with half paid upfront and the other $150m paid equally across the years of his contract.

Last year, Rahm is said to have earned a total of $102m, and is the only golfer to break the $100m barrier. Of that figure, $92m came from on-course earnings, with another $10m in sponsorship payments.

The 31-year-old didn't actually win an event throughout the LIV Golf season in 2025, but he still claimed enough points to come out on top in the individual leaderboard. That earned him a massive $18m, which is exactly how much he beat McIlroy by in the money charts.

McIlroy is arguably the most marketable golfer in the world, especially after his remarkable double Masters win. It speaks volumes that McIlroy's net worth was thought to be around $294m in 2023, and will be much higher now.

But, for 2025-26, he is reported to have earned $84m from golf. $29m of that comes from event payouts, while a whopping $55m comes from off-course deals. That actually makes McIlroy the leader in commercial income, narrowly beating Tiger Woods.

Still, McIlroy's closest competitor is Scottie Scheffler, who recorded $81m in earnings last year. Not surprisingly, given his dominance on the Tour, $51m of that came from winnings on the course, while he's thought to have earned a huge $30m from sponsorship deals with the likes of Turtlebox, Nike, TaylorMade, and Huntington Bank.

Looking elsewhere, there's quite a gap between that top three and the rest of the top-10 highest paid golfers. Bryson DeChambeau is next in line, but his earnings stood at around $65m, with $45m of that coming from his lucrative deal with LIV.

Woods, as we mentioned, is the second highest-earner when it comes to commercial deals. $54m of his total came from that side of the game, while only $200,000 was earned from his performances on the course.

Rounding out the rest of the top-10, Tommy Fleetwood enjoyed a successful year thanks to his Tour Championship win in August. That netted the Englishman a mega $10m payout which contributed to his $42m earnings.

Joaquin Niemann is the third and final LIV golfer in the top 10. The Chilean won five events last year, so it's not surprising that he's up there, with earnings of $41m in total.

Beyond that, we have Hideki Matsuyama sitting at $31m. That's largely thanks to his endorsement portfolio, which contributed $25m. Xander Schauffele ($30m) and Collin Morikawa ($28m) complete the list.

Highest-Paid Golfers 2025-26

Florida prosecutors are seeking “any and all prescription medication on file” for Tiger Woods after the 15-time Major winner was arrested and charged on suspicion of driving under influence last month.

Court documents filed in the Sunshine State on Tuesday, April 7 show prosecutors stating their intent to legally request Woods' prescription drug records via a subpoena as they aim to discover what dosages the golfer was taking and whether any of his medication contained warnings about driving after consuming them.

Should prosecutors be successful, that information could prove vital in building a strong case.

However, the California-born pro's legal team do have the option of objecting to the subpoena up to 10 days after the request was made. If a subpoena request is granted, court filings state it will be issued on April 22.

The 50-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the DUI charges and could well be outside of the United States receiving treatment after a private jet belonging to Woods was spotted in Europe recently.

After Woods' crash on South Beach Road in Jupiter Island on Friday, March 27, a detailed report by Martin County police officers noted that they believed Woods was "lethargic" and "intoxicated" when they arrived on the scene and that his eyes appeared “bloodshot and glassy” while his pupils were "extremely dilated."

Woods claimed he had not consumed any alcohol in the hours before his incident but he had taken "a few" prescriptive medication pills in the morning.

It is not known exactly what Woods has been prescribed, but he did admit to taking pills for blood pressure and cholesterol.

Officers later reported that Woods blew 0.00 on a breathalyzer but he refused a urine test. He was subsequently charged with a DUI and placed under arrest before being taken to Martin County jail and ultimately bailed.

At the scene, a check of Woods' vehicle led to police declaring no drugs or medication was found in the car, but a search of the Florida resident's clothing led to officers discovering two Hydrocodone pills - a strong opioid painkiller to treat moderate to severe pain - in Woods' pocket.

In the aftermath, Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek admitted “we will never get definitive results as to what he was impaired on at the time of the crash."

Woods remains scheduled to appear in Martin County court on April 23 at 8:30am for arraignment.

Rory McIlroy will serve around 30 past champions their dinner on Tuesday evening in the Augusta National clubhouse after winning the 2026 Masters.

With his rollercoaster victory last year, the Northern Irishman earned entry into 'The Masters Club' as a Green Jacket winner where the past champions assemble for an evening dedicated to the most recent victor.

McIlroy will serve an array of mouth-watering dishes, including mains of either Wagyu Filet Mignon or Seared Salmon, topped off with a sticky toffee pudding.

From Jack Nicklaus to Gary Player, Sir Nick Faldo and Fred Couples, the Champions Dinner is full of Masters legends, but two notable previous winners won't be there this year.

Among the past champions not playing in the 2026 Masters are Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, who are both absent from Augusta National for the first time since 1994.

According to the Golf Channel, McIlroy will be paying tribute to them during his special evening.

“Unfortunately, there will be a couple of guys that won't be in that room, which is a shame, but I want to make sure that they're acknowledged as well," he said of Woods and Mickelson.

"They've been two of the greatest champions that the Masters has ever seen.”

Woods has won The Masters five times, while Mickelson is a three-time champion.

Woods is reportedly in Europe undergoing treatment following a car accident in late March that saw him charged for DUI. Mickelson is staying home to deal with a family health matter.

Hopefully we see both men back next year.

While the world's top golfers are heading to Georgia and Augusta National this week, many fans are still thinking about Tiger Woods as he embarks on a journey of recovery following his DUI arrest.

On March 27, Woods was arrested by Martin County Sheriff’s deputies after rolling his vehicle and showing signs of impairment. He was later released on bail.

Since then, Woods has been given permission to leave the country to seek treatment, though it's unclear exactly where that will be.

Court documents stated Woods will receive "comprehensive inpatient treatment" at a facility which can "provide continuous monitoring and the ability to rapidly adjust treatment intervention in a highly controlled environment."

Woods' attorney, Douglas Duncan, said: "The out of country treatment facility recommendation is based upon the Defendant's complex clinical presentation and the urgent need for a level of care that cannot safely or effectively be done within the United States, as his privacy has been repeatedly compromised."

Now, we may have our first hint as to where Woods is undergoing his rehabilitation, after one of his private jets was spotted landing in Zurich, Switzerland.

The plane arrived in the early hours of Friday morning on April 3. However, it is not clear at this stage whether Woods was actually on board.

Of course, this could just be a coincidence, but there are at least two luxury treatment centers that fit the bill in Zurich.

Paracelsus Recovery is an exclusive rehab facility with a long history of treating very wealthy, high-profile clients. Likewise, The Kusnacht Practice has a strong reputation for providing innovative and very private care.

Douglas Duncan claimed just last week that Woods needed to avoid "ongoing medical scrutiny and public exposure" if he were to carry out his treatment without the risk of "setbacks". It stands to reason, then, that these facilities in Zurich may be the chosen destination for Woods in his next steps to recovery.

Woods is on an indefinite break from golf after his latest car crash. This is the third time the 50-year-old will be attending rehab, after previous spells in 2010 and 2017.

In a social media post, Woods wrote: "I'm committed to taking the time needed to return to a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time,"

Tiger Woods needs to have proper accountability for his action after his latest DUI charge, says Sir Nick Faldo, who branded the PGA Tour's response to the matter as "predictably weak".

New bodycam footage released by police shows the entire process of Woods' second arrest on DUI charges after his fourth car accident - the most famous coming in 2021 in California which almost cost him his leg.

Woods has now stepped away from golf to deal with his problems, and has been granted permission to leave the USA for an international rehab facility.

And Faldo believes that "everything will carry on as normal" when Woods returns, which would see the 50-year-old avoid taking true accountability for his actions.

"Compare it to other sports or businesses and what have you - if you were done for DUI a couple of times in your business, what would happen to you?" Faldo told reporters on a pre-Masters media call as published by Sky Sports.

"I've got a feeling that if he disappears and comes back in a couple of months, everything will carry on as normal. I'm not sure if that's right - that's not a good message to the kids of today, is it?"

The PGA Tour released a statement in support of Woods after his decision to seek help but Faldo thinks the Tour should be holding a man who has so much involvement in shaping its future to a higher standard of accountability - especially given his problems are "self-inflicted."

"There are two sides to this right now," added Faldo. "There's one side that's like 'well, let's care for Tiger', but then there's got to be a responsibility and accountability side as well. This is a serious issue he's done.

"The PGA Tour statement was so predictably weak. They showed that the Tour will look after him, as they always have done, but then there has to be some accountability to take.

"I think something should be done a little bit more serious than waving him off to a tropical island [for his rehab] and saying 'welcome back in three or four months', whatever it might be."

PGA Tour 'must be disappointed'

Woods chairs the Future Competition Committee which is charged with developing a new schedule and format for the PGA Tour - and although it will continue working without him he's expected to pick up his position when he returns.

And Faldo feels that's just not right, for Woods to escape without any punishment considering the responsibility the PGA Tour has given him.

"I would have thought the PGA Tour, behind closed doors, must be very disappointed that they pay Tiger tens of millions to be on the golf course and work off the golf course with this business role he has got," Faldo added.

"They're not going to get much on the golf course. He has only finished nine tournaments in the last five years and yet they think that he's the future on the golf course and the future in the decision-making. They must say 'boy, what do we get out of that?'

"It's for the official bodies to decide but you would have thought, in a normal walk of life, there is some accountability for doing that, isn't there?"

Police have released bodycam footage from Tiger Woods' DUI arrest in Florida, which includes his sobriety tests, apparently having a phone call to US President Donald Trump and telling one officer he hoped to play in The Masters.

Woods was arrested and charged with DUI, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test after rolling his Range Rover near his home on March 27. He's entered a not guilty plea and has asked for a jury trial.

Martin County Sheriffs said they believed Woods was "lethargic" and "intoxicated" when arriving at the scene of his crash on South Beach Road in Jupiter Island, and now footage of the entire process has been released.

And among the more eye-catching moments is early on when Woods returns from taking a phone call and tells police: "I was just talking with the president.”

The 50-year-old is pictured in bodycam footage talking with police and his long-time friend and manager Rob McNamara and making several calls on his phone - including apparently to President Trump.

In more footage widely published, McNamara asks for Woods' golf clubs to be taken out of his upturned SUV.

An officer then asks Woods if he planned to play in this years Masters, to which the five-time Green Jacket winner replied: "Hoping to."

The 15-time Major champion has since said he was "stepping away" from golf to deal with his problems, and has been granted permission to leave the USA for an international rehab facility.

Along with not make the trip to Augusta National for The Masters, Woods has also turned down the Ryder Cup captaincy as he looks to "seek treatment and focus on my health".

Woods pictured in handcuffs

When later asked to described the incident, Woods says: "I looked down at my phone, and all of a sudden, boom."

Matters get more serious later on. Woods can be seen cooperating with police as he goes through sobriety tests before being handcuffed as officers told him they suspected his "normal faculties are impaired" by an "unknown substance".

Woods blew 0.00 on a breathalyzer test but later refused to undergo a urine analysis. Police found no drugs or medication in the car but Woods did have two Hydrocodone pills - a strong opioid painkiller to treat pain - in his pocket.

When asked if he had taken any prescription medication, Woods replied "I take a few" but when he lists those he'd taken that morning they're redacted from the footage.

People will draw their own conclusions about Woods' condition in the videos, and as yet no future court dates have been released as his case develops.

It's more sad evidence though at the struggles the modern game's greatest player has been going through in dealing with his problems off the course.

'Just talking with the President' - Tiger Woods bodycam footage

When Tiger Woods said he was "stepping away" from golf to deal with his problems he really meant it, as he's been granted permission to go outside the USA for treatment.

Woods was arrested and charged with DUI, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test following his latest car crash in Florida on March 27. He's entered a not guilty plea and has asked for a jury trial.

The 15-time Major champion will not make the trip to Augusta National for The Masters and has turned down the Ryder Cup captaincy as he looks to "seek treatment and focus on my health".

And the 50-year-old will seek that treatment outside of the USA after a judge granted him permission to leave the country.

Martin County Court judge Darren Steele approved the motion for Woods to enter an international rehabilitation facility after his attorney Douglas Duncan argued that Woods could not get the care he needed in the USA as his privacy has previously been compromised repeatedly.

“Based upon the defendant’s treating physician, the out-of-country treatment facility recommendation is based upon the defendant’s complex clinical presentation and the urgent need for a level of care that cannot safely or effectively be done within the United States, as his privacy has been repeatedly compromised,” Duncan said in the court proceedings, as reported by Golf Digest.

“Ongoing medical scrutiny and public exposure create significant barriers to his care and would result in setbacks and an inability to fully engage in treatment.”

Martin County Sheriffs said they believed Woods was "lethargic" and "intoxicated" when they arrived on the scene of his crash on South Beach Road in Jupiter Island.

Woods blew 0.00 on a breathalyzer test but later refused to undergo a urine analysis. Police found no drugs or medication in the car but Woods did have two Hydrocodone pills - a strong opioid painkiller to treat pain - in his pocket.

It's the fourth automobile accident Woods has been involved in, one of which nearly cost him his leg and has no doubt cost him the back end of his career as he's failed to recover from the multiple surgeries resulting from that 2021 crash in California.

Woods admitted he needed to get treatment in his only statement on the matter, and he'll now leave the country to try and deal with his issues.

"I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today," Woods said. "I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health.

"This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery. I'm committed to taking the time needed to return to a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally."

Along with missing The Masters, delaying a possible seniors debut and losing the Ryder Cup captaincy, Woods' departure also leaves a big hole at the PGA Tour as he was heavily involved in shaping its future.

Woods is the chairman of the Future Competition Committee, which will continue to work on a new schedule and format for the PGA Tour going forward and is expected to welcome Woods back when he returns from his rehabilitation.

It was always likely, but Tiger Woods has officially declined the chance to be 2027 Team USA Ryder Cup captain.

The 15-time Major champion has announced he will step away from golf to "seek treatment and focus on my health" following his latest high-profile car crash in Florida last week.

Woods has been given permission by a judge to seek treatment outside of the USA.

Being charged with a DUI likely put an end to his chances of being Ryder Cup captain next year at Adare Manor, but that has now been made official with Woods himself making the call.

"We commend Tiger for prioritizing his long-term health and deeply respect the courage it takes to make such a personal decision," the PGA of America said.

"Tiger has shared with us that he will not serve as captain of the 2027 US Ryder Cup team and we support his decision.

"The PGA of America will share further updates regarding the Ryder Cup captaincy when appropriate.”

The PGA of America added that it "stands in full spport of Tiger Woods as he steps away to focus on his health and well-being" but it leaves them with a Ryder Cup captain to find as Woods tries to deal with his obvious issues.

The latest problems stem from Woods rolling his car on Friday, March 27 during a failed overtaking manoeuvre on South Beach Road in Jupiter Island, Florida - near his home.

Martin County police officers stated that Woods was "sweating profusely" while acting "lethargic and slow" and that his eyes were "bloodshot and glassy" leading to his arrest on DUI charges.

Woods blew 0.00 on a breathalyzer test at the time before later refusing a urine analysis, as he was also charged with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

The 50-year-old has entered a plea of not guilty and requested a jury trial but in the immediate future he's focusing on getting treatment.

Who will be next US Ryder Cup captain?

For the PGA of America it's a huge blow as it looks like Woods was the preferred choice to tackle Luke Donald in Ireland.

With time ticking away there's no clear favorite for the challenging role of stopping Donald from winning three in a row and winning on European soil for the first time since 1993.

Keegan Bradley has said he'd love another crack at things and did get a positive response from his players in their fine Sunday fightback at Bethpage.

Steve Stricker masterminded an emphatic home win for the USA in 2021 and the likes of Stewart Cink, Brandt Snedeker and Webb Simpson have all been mentioned.

The PGA of America needs to make a decision soon though - Bradley was only named in July 2024 and if it's to be a new face then they will need as much time as possible with the added problems of an away fixture to deal with.

15-time Major winner Tiger Woods has announced he will be "stepping away" from golf indefinitely in order to "seek treatment and focus on my health" following his latest high-profile car crash last week.

Woods was arrested and bailed on Friday, March 27 after a failed overtake on South Beach Road in Jupiter Island, Florida - near his home - saw the 50-year-old flip his car onto its side while trying to pass a towed trailer which was turning onto a driveway.

When Martin County officers reached the scene, they stated that Woods was "sweating profusely" while acting "lethargic and slow" and that his eyes were "bloodshot and glassy."

Upon searching the golfer's clothing, two Hydrocodone pills - a strong opioid painkiller to treat moderate to severe pain - were found in Woods' pocket.

The Californian was charged with DUI - for which he has pled not guilty and requested a jury trial - as well as property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test after he chose not to take part in a urinalysis test.

Woods did pass a breath test, however, confirming that there was no sign of alcohol in his system at the time of the crash.

Attempting to explain why the incident occurred in the first place, Woods claimed he did not see that the vehicle ahead had slowed down as he was looking at his phone and changing the radio station in his black Land Rover SUV.

He is now scheduled to appear in Martin County court on April 23 at 8:30am for arraignment.

Before that date, though, Woods has confirmed he will not play The Masters next week and is also not expected to appear publicly in the meantime as he focuses on his health and wellbeing.

In a statement from the 82-time PGA Tour winner shared late on Tuesday, Woods said: “I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today.

"I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.

“I'm committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally.

"I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time.”

In addition, Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley confirmed The Masters would take place without the five-time champion between April 9-12.

Ridley said: "Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament fully support Tiger Woods as he focuses on his well-being.

“Although Tiger will not be joining us in person next week, his presence will be felt here in Augusta.”

Woods recently appeared in the TGL finals for Jupiter Links, hitting just a handful of shots and revealing that he had been "trying" to prepare sufficiently to play Augusta National.

Away from his own game, the former Stanford University golfer had reportedly been weighing up whether to take on the Ryder Cup captaincy for Team USA while also working with the PGA Tour's Future Competitions Committee - of which Woods is the chair.

Yet, all of those jobs are expected to be put on the back burner for the time being as Woods tends to his mental and physical health.

In a statement, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp said of Woods: “Tiger Woods is one of the most influential figures the sports world has ever known.

“Over the last year, I have come to deeply appreciate Tiger not only for his impact on the game, but for his friendship and the perspective he has shared with me as I joined the golf industry.

"My thoughts are with him and his family as he takes this step, for which he has my full respect and support.”

A similar sentiment was shared in an official PGA Tour statement, which read: "Tiger Woods is a legend of our sport whose impact extends far beyond his achievements on the course.

“But above all else, Tiger is a person, and our focus is on his health and well‑being. Tiger continues to have our full support as he takes this important step.”

The police report of Tiger Woods' recent car accident has been made public by the Martin County Sheriff's Office, with further details emerging about the 15-time Major winner's latest crash last week.

Woods was involved in a two-car accident on Friday, March 27 after a failed overtake "at high speed" down the 30mph South Beach Road in Jupiter Island.

Neither Woods or a man who has since been named as Jeremy Bullard reported any immediate injuries after the incident, but Martin County Sheriffs said they believed Woods was "lethargic" and "intoxicated" when they arrived on the scene.

Woods blew 0.00 on a breathalyzer test at the time before later refusing a urine analysis. He was taken to jail and ultimately charged with a DUI, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

The California-born golfer was released on bail that same night at around 11:15pm ET.

Since then, more information has been made publicly available in the form of the Sheriff's Office report.

According to the probable cause affidavit, which has been seen by The Guardian, Woods claimed he did not notice the vehicle in front of him had slowed down before the crash due to looking at his phone and changing the radio station in his black Land Rover SUV.

Woods' car flipped onto the driver's side after striking the back-left corner of Bullard's trailer and slid along the road, causing the golfer to climb out of the front-passenger side. It has been estimated that there was $5,000 worth of damage sustained by the trailer.

Eventually greeted by Martin County police officers, a deputy noted "several signs of impairment" from Woods - including that he was "sweating profusely" and appeared "sluggish" in his movement.

Having put on sunglasses, officers were apparently unable to assess the condition of Woods' eyes immediately, but ahead of a handful of sobriety test exercises, it was deemed that the golfer's eyes appeared “bloodshot and glassy” and that his pupils were "extremely dilated."

Woods was also observed "limping and stumbling to the right" after being asked to make his way around to the front of a police car.

Asked if he had any injuries, Woods replied that he had undergone seven back surgeries and more than 20 operations on his leg during his life.

The former Stanford University golfer was asked if he was able to walk or lift his leg properly, to which he informed officers that he walks with a limp and his ankle seizes while doing so.

During the field sobriety exercises, deputies said Woods had "difficulty maintaining balance", "failed to follow instructions" and "struggled with coordination tasks."

Woods told officers that he had not consumed any alcohol recently but said that he had taken "a few" pills for blood pressure and cholesterol when quizzed on whether he uses any prescription medication. One was Vicodin.

Based on the evidence they had collected, Martin County sheriffs determined that Woods was "unable to safely operate a motor vehicle" and placed him under arrest.

A check of Woods' vehicle led to police declaring no drugs or medication was found in the car, but a search of the Florida resident's clothing led to officers discovering two Hydrocodone pills - a strong opioid painkiller to treat moderate to severe pain - in Woods' pocket.

He was taken to a local hospital for medial clearance shortly after before being moved on to Martin County jail in the evening.

While at the jail, the 82-time PGA Tour winner cleared a breath test but refused to comply with a urinalysis test, for which he was charged.

Having been held for the mandatory eight hours under Florida law, Woods posted the $1,150 bail and was taken away in a private car.

He is now scheduled to appear in Martin County court on April 23 at 8:30am for arraignment.

Tiger Woods has been released on bail from Martin County Jail after he was arrested when he was involved in road traffic accident on Friday near his home in Jupiter, Florida.

The 15-time Major winner was driving solo in a Land Rover when he was said to have clipped the back end of a pressure cleaner vehicle's trailer while trying to overtake it "at high speed."

His car rolled onto its side and slid down the road, from where he is believed to have crawled out of the passenger door on the two-lane 30mph road.

Following the accident, where no injuries were recorded, Woods was arrested for Driving Under the Influence, property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

The Martin County Sheriffs said they believed Woods was "lethargic" and "intoxicated" when they arrived. Woods blew 0 on a breathalyzer test before refusing a urine analysis.

Police confirmed no drugs or medication were found in the car.

Woods was reportedly released at around 11.15pm ET, where images show the 50-year-old being driven away in an SUV.

He posted bail to secure his release, although the amount has not been disclosed.

The incident occurred just days after Woods made his long-awaited return to competitive action following back surgery in October.

Woods played for Jupiter Links GC on Tuesday in its defeat to Los Angeles Golf Club in the Finals Series of TGL.

Following his comeback appearance, Woods gave hope to fans that he could be fit enough to play in The Masters, which begins on April 9th.

He said: "I've been trying. Just this body is... it doesn't recover like it did when it was 24, 25. It doesn't mean I'm not trying. I've been trying for a while.

"I've had a couple bad injuries here over the past years that I've had to fight through and it's taken some time. But I keep trying. I want to play.

"I love the tournament. I've loved being there since I was 19 years old. It's meant a lot to me and my family over the years.

"I'm going to be there either way with The Loop that's going up there, as well as the Champions Dinner."

Woods, who has also registered for the US Senior Open, which begins on July 2nd, has a history of road traffic incidents.

He was also involved in a rollover crash in Los Angeles in 2021, which left him with serious leg and foot injuries and saw him sidelined for over 12 months.

The latest incident is his second DUI charge, having also been arrested in 2017 when he was found asleep behind the wheel.

Woods also infamously crashed his car into a fire hydrant in 2009, which led to his high-profile public scandal.

Tiger Woods has been arrested for Driving Under the Influence following a road traffic accident near his home in Jupiter, Florida, where no injuries were recorded.

He has also been arrested for property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

Woods, driving solo in a Land Rover, is said to have clipped the back end of a pressure cleaner vehicle's trailer while trying to overtake it "at high speed" before his car rolled onto its side and slid down the road. The 50-year-old is believed to have crawled out of the passenger door on the two-lane 30mph road near his Jupiter mansion.

Woods has been taken to the Martin County Jail, the Martin County Sheriff's Office confirmed following the crash at around 2pm local time, where he will spend eight hours before being allowed out on bond.

The Martin County Sheriffs said they believed the 15-time Major winner was "lethargic" and "intoxicated" when they arrived. Woods blew 0 on a breathalyzer test before refusing a urine analysis.

No drugs or medication were found in the car, police said.

Tiger Woods crash: Watch Martin County sheriff department address

A photo posted by WPTV shows Woods' vehicle on its side in the road:

It is Tiger Woods' latest road accident following a rollover crash in Los Angeles in 2021. It left him with serious leg and foot injuries and saw him sidelined for over 12 months.

It is his second DUI charge, after also being arrested in 2017 when he was found asleep behind the wheel.

Woods also infamously crashed his car into a fire hydrant in 2009, which led to his high profile public scandal.

It appears to be another setback for Woods, who is back playing competitive golf - at least in his TGL simulator league - and had hopes of playing in The Masters in two weeks' time.

It remains to be seen when he next tees it up.

The name Tiger Woods was not included in an early list of star players taking part in the US Senior Open this year - but that doesn't mean that he won't play.

The 2026 US Senior Open will tee off on July 2 at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio - the course where Jack Nicklaus famously learned to play golf.

The USGA released the names of the 11 past champions that are exempt for this year's US Senior Open - led by defending champion and two-time winner Padraig Harrington.

The likes of Richard Bland, Jim Furyk, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie were also mentioned - but the name of Tiger Woods was not.

The 15-time Major winner turned 50 at the end of last year so is newly eligible for the seniors circuit, and has said he'd like to play as the tour allows golf carts which would help with his main problem of simply walking around during a tournament due to the amount of injuries he's sustained.

You'd think the USGA would be shouting it from the rooftops if Tiger had confirmed for the US Senior Open, but despite not being mentioned he has actually registered for the tournament.

“Tiger has entered the championship, simply to ensure eligibility, but will not make a decision about playing until a later date,” the USGA told Golf Digest.

That makes a lot of sense given Woods has only just appeared in TGL in the final match as he continues to recover from both Achilles and back surgeries he had last year.

Woods doesn't even know if he'll be able to play in The Masters yet, although President Donald Trump said that he won't tee it up at Augusta.

So the lack of Woods' name in the USGA announcement shouldn't be too much of a sign either way about his intentions to play in the US Senior Open - and being registered means that he certainly can if he recovers.

And Woods isn't the only one - as Zach Johnson, Henrik Stenson and Ian Poulter have all crossed the 50 threshold so can take part on the seniors circuit this year but there's no mention of their participation as yet.

So it's another case of wait and see where and when Tiger Woods will be able to play competitive golf again.

As for those confirmed for the US Senior Open, they include Ernie Els, Davis Love III, Justin Leonard, Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, Stewart Cink, Darren Clarke and Angel Cabrera, along with previous winners such as Steve Stricker, David Toms and Jim Furyk.

The USGA and golf fans everywhere will be hoping the name Tiger Woods can be added to that list.

Not many things would surprise you in modern day golf, but US President Donald Trump breaking the news of Tiger Woods' Masters availability is certainly one of them.

And yet here we are, with President Trump appearing on TV to express with seeming certainty the answer to one of the big questions in golf right now - will Tiger Woods play in The Masters?

It's one of the big talking points heading into the opening Major of the year, whether the five-time Green Jacket winner will be able to tee it up at Augusta National for yet another miraculous comeback.

Tiger himself didn't seem to have a definitive answer the last time he spoke about it, but Donald Trump seems pretty sure.

"I love Tiger, but he won't be there," Trump said on Fox News. "He'll be there but he won't be playing in it."

Woods will indeed be at Augusta this year, to sample Rory McIlroy's Champions Dinner and also open a new project The Patch at Augusta Municipal Golf Course.

The 82-time PGA Tour winner has had a dreadful run of injuries over the last year, but made his first competitive swings back in public during the recent TGL final for his Jupiter Links GC.

The 15-time Major champion hasn't played in a regular outdoor tournament since the PNC Championship in late 2024 alongside son Charlie, with Achilles surgery last March followed by his seventh back surgery last October.

Woods is remaining hopeful he can play at The Masters though, and gave his fans hope with his comments after that final loss in TGL.

"As I said, I've been trying," said Woods. "I've been trying for a while. I've had a couple bad injuries here over the past years that I've had to fight through and it's taken some time. But I keep trying. I want to play.

"I love the tournament. I've loved being there since I was 19 years old. It's meant a lot to me and my family over the years."

Will Tiger Woods play in The Masters?

Does Donald Trump know something we don't? As unlikely as it seems there is a route to some direct knowledge here, with Woods in a relationship with Vanessa Trump - the ex-wife of Trump's son Don Jr.

Woods then obviously spends a lot of time with Trump's granddaughter and aspiring golfer Kai so it's not entirely beyond the realms of possibility that the President has some inside knowledge.

Trump says a lot of things with authority though, so it's almost certainly an opinion rather than a matter of fact - as going on Woods' last comments not even he knows for sure.

It's more likely to be a game time decision for Woods, who will try and work on his game for longer periods and see how his body reacts before taking on the challenge of a seriously tough walk around Augusta.

And he'll want to be sure he can compete and complete at least two rounds at Augusta to extend his record 24 consecutive made cuts at The Masters.

We'll take it for what it is, a mere throwaway comment, but regardless, the President of the United States breaking big golf news on live TV? This sport is never short of headlines these days.

15-time Major winner Tiger Woods has reiterated he wants to play The Masters next month following a first competitive appearance in over a year at the TGL Finals on Tuesday night.

Woods last played some kind of meaningful event in Jupiter Links' 9-1 loss to Atlanta Drive on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Since then, he has undergone Achilles surgery and a seventh career back procedure.

Back fit and firing once more, Woods subbed in for Kevin Kisner during game two of the 2026 SoFi Cup Finals, but the five-time Masters champion failed to change Jupiter Links' momentum as the Florida-based team went down 9-2 to Los Angeles GC.

The west coast outfit - made up of Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Sahith Theegala - comfortably sewed up the franchise's first TGL title via a 2-0 scoreline in the best-of-three series and consigned Woods to a rude awakening on his competitive comeback.

The 50-year-old played a crucial role in Jupiter Links' defeat, too, courtesy of a missed three-foot putt on the seventh hole that his team failed to recover from. LA then stepped on the gas and blasted off into the distance with three clinching eagles in a row.

Nevertheless, there were plenty of encouraging signs for the 82-time PGA Tour winner via a couple of full-tilt drives and a well-judged long-range putt.

Although the result did not go the way Woods or his fans had hoped, there was only one question everyone wanted the answer to afterwards. Tiger, will you play The Masters?

"As I said, I've been trying," Woods replied. "Just this body is... it doesn't recover like it did when it was 24, 25. It doesn't mean I'm not trying. I've been trying for a while.

"I've had a couple bad injuries here over the past years that I've had to fight through and it's taken some time. But I keep trying. I want to play.

"I love the tournament. I've loved being there since I was 19 years old. It's meant a lot to me and my family over the years.

"I'm going to be there either way with The Loop that's going up there, as well as the Champions Dinner."

Despite hitting a shot in a competitive environment for the first time since March 2025, Woods shared in his post-match interview that he "feels fine physically" and will continue to practice at home this week with the aim of making further progress.

A couple of Woods' drives were clocked at over 175mph ball speed inside SoFi Center, with the former Stanford University golfer revealing there is "definitely more" in the tank.

He continued: "Yeah, there's definitely more. I've never really struggled with ball speed. Ball direction is a different story. I've hit it left and right most of my life, hence my last name is Woods.

"Hey, I've always had speed. That's always been something that I've fortunately been gifted with. Even as I've gotten older and with the body not quite what it used to be, I can still get it up there.

"It's just that now everyone is living at that speed and higher. We were joking the other day that in '97 I averaged 296. That's like nothing now. I was No. 2 in driving distance behind [John] Daly. Guys are hitting that with 3-woods now."

Tiger Woods has been confirmed for his first TGL start of the year tonight following his seventh back surgery in October.

The 15-time Major winner, who admitted a return to The Masters was not off the table last month, will play alongside Max Homa and Tom Kim in match two of the final vs Los Angeles Golf Club's trio of Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Sahith Theegala.

LAGC are 1-0 up after winning 6-5 last night and can lift the SoFi Cup with victory in game two, while a Jupiter win would force a third-and-final decider in the best-of-three series later in the evening.

"I feel bad for them. As a team, we were together in this, all of us together, and it was close," Woods said of his team's narrow loss.

"We had our opportunities; they had their opportunities. We could have flipped in the middle of that back nine, and it came down to the last hole. We've been there before. We were in a playoff once, and this was damn near there.

"Unfortunately, it didn't happen, but we have possibly two more matches. We're not out of this. Even with a loss we're still not out of it."

Woods has been back hitting full shots this year and his appearance in the TGL final will give further hope to a potential start at Augusta National in just over two weeks' time. The 50-year-old's last Masters start came in 2024, which saw him make a record-breaking 24th consecutive cut.

Woods last played competitively at the 2024 PNC Championship with son Charlie, where they lost out to Team Langer in a playoff. His last PGA Tour or Major appearance was at Royal Troon in his missed cut in the 2024 Open Championship.

Since then, he has undergone achilles surgery in March 2025 before a lumbar disk replacement procedure in October.

He seemed to pump the brakes on a Masters start last week but things have clearly gone a little smoother in recent days.

"I said I've been working on it. Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad days," he said.

"Disk replacement is not a lot of fun. 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. I have good days when I can pretty much do anything, and other days where it's hard to just to move around."

The second match of the TGL final gets underway at 7pm ET. The third and final match, if needed, will take place immediately after.

Could Tiger Woods actually play in The Masters this year? There's a few hints and signs that perhaps he may be seriously considering it.

When it comes to Tigers Woods' playing schedule then any crumb of news makes headlines, when it comes to him actually teeing it up at Augusta National then the news on the grapevine goes into overdrive.

The sensible answer for normal people would be no, Woods surely can't recover from all his recent problems without even playing TGL to warm-up and just rock up to play The Masters.

But Tiger Woods is no normal golfer, he's proved that time and time again, so until it's made official then fans, and journalists wanting the ultimate comeback story, will live in hope.

Firstly it was Woods' private jet being spotted at Augusta Regional Airport and now the official Masters app has caused a stir.

First and foremost Woods hasn't officially been ruled out of The Masters just yet - as it's been well publicised that his name doesn't appear on the official tournament website in the section for past champions not playing.

Also, a check of the Masters bio section sees it's been updated to read: “Tiger Woods is making his 27th start in the Masters in 2026” which has naturally sat tongues wagging.

People like Skratch golf were among the first to ponder whether it could be a sign or, most likely, just formalities until Woods actually confirms his non-attendance.

Woods only had disc replacement surgery in his back last October and hasn't even been fit enough to have a hit during the TGL, so to make his return to golf at The Matsers seems hugely far fetched.

Why Tiger Woods is unlikely to play at Augusta

“Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad days,” Woods said recently. “Disc replacement is not a lot of fun. I have good days when I can do anything and other days when it’s hard to just move around.”

The doesn't bode well for the 50-year-old, who is surely more likely to ease his way into golf eventually by making his seniors debut on the PGA Tour Champions.

The 15-time Major champion has previously said though that playing in The Masters was not off the table even though it would be his first full tournament appearance since the 2024 Open Championship, with his final appearance overall being at the 2024 PNC Championship with son Charlie.

Woods will obviously be travelling to Augusta for Rory McIlroy's Champions Dinner, but the chances of him being able to tee it up in the first round on April 9 seem a long way off.

As a five-time Green Jacket winner Woods knows Augusta like the back of his hand and if there's one Major he could slide right back into it would be The Masters.

However, Augusta National is a tough walk for anyone, let alone a 50-year-old recovering from back and Achilles surgery.

And it's been tough to watch Woods limping around among the Azaleas in recent years, with his last appearance seeing him finish bottom of the final leaderboard of those making the cut in 2024.

In 2023 he had to withdraw in the third round with plantar fasciitis and in 2022 he finished 47th having made the cut just 14 months after that horrific car crash - that in itself was a comeback of monumental proportions.

Woods holds the record of 24 straight made cuts at The Masters, a record he's rightly proud of, and that would be at serious risk if he played this year - which may be another factor when he finally makes his decision.

With less than a month to go until The Masters, people want to know whether 15-time Major winner Tiger Woods will be in the field at Augusta National. At this stage, no one knows. Apparently, not even the man himself.

Woods - playing the role of conductor - perhaps inadvertently allowed a hype train carrying excited fans to leave the station last month when he admitted that his appearance at the first men's Major of the year was not off the table.

That was despite having not played a competitive tournament since the 2024 Open Championship, where he missed the cut.

In the meantime, Woods has suffered a torn Achilles and a seventh back surgery before turning 50, with some people expecting the California-born pro to graduate onto the PGA Tour Champions instead of coming back to the main circuit.

But once Woods shared that he had started hitting full shots again, it was widely suggested that the 82-time PGA Tour winner may return to play alongside Scottie Scheffler and co. in the coming weeks.

However, speaking after Jupiter Links' semi-final victory over Boston Common in TGL on Tuesday night, Woods suggested his comeback might not be as soon as some had hoped for.

He said: "I said I've been working on it. Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad days. Disk replacement is not a lot of fun. 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. I have good days when I can pretty much do anything, and other days where it's hard to just to move around."

Woods' positive mobility while enjoying his teammates' victory at SoFi Center on Tuesday night was evident, with a number of passionate celebrations on display - even if an actual swing was not.

Some fans had hoped to see the Sun Day Red founder make a soft return at a TGL match this term, but Woods indicated he was unlikely to play in the Finals next week.

Woods said: "Well, I think that I have been trying to play each and every one of these matches. I've been trying to come back. But it just hasn't worked out that way.

"I've had a bad run of injuries last year. I think it's been a year and a few days since I blew out my Achilles. And so then I've had two back operations. So it's been a little rough going.

"But the guys here, this team, we have so much fun, I really don't want to screw up the lineup, I just want these guys to keep playing."

Jupiter Links will take on Los Angeles in the best-of-three Finals at SoFi Center on Monday, March 23 and Tuesday, March 24.

Ever since February’s Genesis Invitational, speculation as to whether Tiger Woods will play in The Masters has been mounting.

The five-time champion spoke to the media ahead of the Riviera Country Club event, which he hosts, and, asked if an appearance at the Augusta National Major was off the table, he simply replied, “No.”

Then, during the third round of the tournament, Woods, who is recovering from back surgery undertaken in October, visited the CBS broadcast booth to speak to Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman.

Again, he didn’t rule out an appearance, or even the possibility of playing in another event in the weeks ahead of it, saying: “I don't know that. I don't know. Whether it's regular tour, senior tour or member guest, I don't know."

Woods isn’t competing in this week’s Players Championship, while he’s not in the field for next week’s Valspar Championship or Cologuard Classic on the PGA Tour Champions, either.

However, with The Masters now just a three weeks away, his private jet was spotted on Saturday at Augusta Regional Airport, as reported by NUCLRGOLF on X.

So, does that suggest the 15-time Major winner is stepping up his efforts to play in the tournament? There’s no confirmation of that, although a potential Masters appearance isn’t his only interest in the area.

Woods’ TGR Design is also involved with the design of a new short course for the local Augusta community, offering affordable golf.

The plan was announced at the 2025 Masters alongside Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley, and will see the course open at the site of Augusta Municipal Golf Course, aka The Patch.

If Woods spent Saturday in the Augusta area to oversee progress on the work, it wouldn’t be the first time.

Back in June 2025, he visited the site, which will be called The Loop at the Patch, where he was photographed with Ridley.

During his appearance in the CBS broadcast booth at the Genesis Invitational, Woods also confirmed that, whether he plays or not, he would be at Augusta National during Masters week as part of the Champions Dinner and to open up The Patch.

He said: "I know I'll be there. We're going to open up The Patch and Trevor and I are going to be part of a great dinner.”

As a result, whatever the reason for Woods’ private jet being in the area on Saturday, we know for certain it won’t be long until he is there again. The only question that remains is whether he will be teeing it up in the first Major of the year.

Go on, watch it again. It’s one of those special Tiger Woods moments - and we’re not talking about that chip at Augusta.

It’s Players Championship week, and 25 years since Tiger’s “Better than most” putt.

To honor Woods, The Players has done something pretty special this week - but before we get onto that, let’s rewind the clock to 2001.

Woods, the World No.1, was at the peak of his powers, yet the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass was proving a difficult nut to crack.

With no victories at the famous course in his first four attempts and just one sub-70 round, could it be possible that the best player to pick up a golf club in the history of the game might not win golf’s unofficial ‘Fifth Major’?

Possible, yes, but unlikely.

Third-round leader Jerry Kelly was optimistic about his chances through 36 holes, as he opined that Woods was “just another player”.

In the third round, Woods gifted us that special moment, one that will be shown over and over again on Saturday, as he took control of the tournament in style.

TPC Sawgrass is known for its signature hole, the par-3 17th, with the “island green” a terrifyingly small target even with a wedge, especially when the wind whips in across the water.

But it’s not just the water that gives players a headache: find the wrong part of the green, and it’s easy to throw in a costly three-putt near the end of the round.

Woods hit his pitching wedge straight at the flag, but it went long, and he was fortunate not to find the water.

Now, though, he was standing on the top tier facing a triple-breaking putt that went right-to-left, then left-to-right, and then back right-to-left.

He was also 60 feet away, so the odds of making a par were stacked against him.

“Better than most,” was the iconic call by NBC’s Gary Koch, as Woods’ putt tracked towards the hole - and then disappeared from view.

The 2001 Players Championship ran into Monday because of bad weather, and it was Woods who prevailed by one shot over Vijay Singh.

The hole location on the iconic 17th for Saturday’s third round will be the same one used during the 2001 edition of the tournament, and players will notice a specially engraved cup when retrieving their golf ball from the hole.

It’s a nice touch from the organizers, but probably won’t make anyone feel any better after taking a trip to the drink or three-putting.

There was a lot of promise of change but few firm details from Brian Rolapp's press conference as he set out his future vision for the PGA Tour.

It was more setting out themes rather than plans as Rolapp revealed the future would involve a two-tier system with more Signature Events, full-field ones with promotion and relegation to be involved.

A shorter season and later start we already knew about, while what seems certain now is that the PGA Tour want to get more involved in the major TV markets across America.

But where will these big events be played and why the big change in target areas? Let's take a look at some of the venues we could see on the all-new PGA Tour.

The 'why?' is the easy part as it's a pure numbers game. More fans through the gates means more revenue, more hospitality and aesthetically the look is much better with more fans packed around greens to create those iconic winning moments.

Then there's a larger local TV audience and also bigger local companies as potential sponsors and purchasers of hospitality.

And on the golfing side, which obviously should be the most important, there's some iconic courses near these major cities that could be used, either on rotation or as a permanent home of a big new event.

What are the top US TV markets the PGA Tour want?

"Today the PGA Tour competes in only four of the top 10 largest US media markets. That is an opportunity," said Rolapp, before naming some targets.

"We are evaluating markets like New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington DC, Boston, and many others, places where there is a strong fan demand for our sport, and a chance to reach new fans."

Those big cities mentioned include three of the top five US TV markets as reported by the Sports Business Journal so it's understandable why the PGA Tour would want to switch events from the likes of St Louis, Memphis, Greensboro and Detroit to New York, Chicago and Philadelphia to fulfil their ambition to "own the summer" as has been touted.

Rolapp did not mention Los Angeles in his press conference with the Genesis Invitational at Riviera already on the schedule - that's likely to move from February to later in the year according to Tiger Woods.

It's safe to say Pebble Beach will remain and Torrey Pines should continue as a West Coast event, but Rolapp did mention San Francisco so maybe they're after an event closer to the big city, so we'll include that in our big six target areas.

Let us know what you think of our choices and which courses you'd like to see on the new PGA Tour schedule in the future by joining the conversation below...

Top 10 US TV Markets from 2024-2025

1. New York
2. Los Angeles
3. Chicago
4. Dallas-Fort Worth
5. Philadelphia
6. Atlanta
7. Houston
8. Washington
9. Boston
10. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose

Where could the PGA Tour play in the future?

So taking Rolapp at his word, here's some possible venues for his six big target markets to attack for the PGA Tour's future.

New York

The Big Apple has a big selection of iconic courses nearby so take your pick! The US Open this year is off to Shinnecock Hills out on Long Island, not far from Ryder Cup host Bethpage Black, while another Major venue Winged Foot is just 25 miles north of Times Square and is a course packed with history.

The National Golf Links of America is a stunning course always highly rated in the area, while on a similar theme Ballys Golf Links at Ferry Point, formerly owned by Donald Trump, is set to re-open in April 2026 under new management.

For views though it's hard to beat Liberty National in New Jersey, barely a long drive from the Statue of Liberty and with truly iconic vistas of the Big Apple. And it's also a previous stop on the PGA Tour having hosted The Barclays (later known as the Northern Trust) and also a Presidents Cup.

Chicago

For proximity to downtown Chicago, course history, quality and ease of access it's hard to look anywhere other than Medinah - a Major venue and scene of that incredible 2012 Ryder Cup comeback.

Olympia Fields has staged two US Opens and two PGA Championships and also the BMW Championship so would be an easy fit for the PGA Tour just south of Chicago.

Rich Harvest Farms has most recently hosted LIV Golf Chicago but also previously the Solheim Cup while Chicago Golf Club is another course steeped in history as the first 18-hole course built in the USA and Conway Farms has hosted the BMW Championship recently.

Philadelphia

The 2026 PGA Championship is at Aronimink on the outskirts of Philly, which surprisingly is just the second time it will host a men's Major as it's consistently ranked highly and is thought of as such a tough test of golf.

Just a few miles closer to downtown is five-time US Open host Merion Golf Club, of the baskets instead of flags fame, and that would be another iconic name to add to the PGA Tour rota.

Philadelphia Cricket Club held the Signature Event Truist Championship last year, while Philadelphia Country Club is one of the first six members of the USGA and although the highly-rated Pine Valley is in New Jersey it's only 20 miles from downtown.

Washington DC

Trump National will stage a LIV Golf event this year and since the US President is also hosting the PGA Tour in Miami then he'd no doubt snap up the chance of adding another event to his CV.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Club was a regular home of the Presidents Cup, hosting it four times along with the 2024 Solheim Cup and also Tiger Woods' Quicken Loans National on the PGA Tour so would be an easy fit.

Congressional might be tough to beat though. It's close to the city and is a brute of a course with Major championship history and plenty of PGA Tour previous.

Boston

TPC Boston has held 17 PGA Tour tournaments including 13 in the FedEx Cup Playoffs so you'd have to believe it'd be top of the list for Rolapp to put down some permanent roots in the area.

The Country Club at Brookline would be hard to beat though for a regular PGA Tour tournament host with a huge history of hosting Majors, USGA amateur championships and also one infamous Ryder Cup.

Balmont Country Club has also hosted USGA events and is well thought of so could be an outsider here.

San Francisco

Pebble Beach will remain on the rota but the PGA Tour seems to want an event nearer to the city of San Francisco itself, which would help with attendances and sponsorship opportunities.

The Olympic Club is a stunning venue with a bagful of Majors having been held there so it's a course than can play really tough, but can also present some iconic views of San Francisco that would help to sell the event on TV.

TPC Harding Park is just a stone's throw away from Olympic Club so offers the same benefits, but as part of the PGA Tour's TPC brand it would be the natural fit for a regular tournament.

Collin Morikawa won the 2020 PGA Championship here and it's also held the WGC-Cadillac Championship and Presidents Cup.

Charlie Woods had a tough start at the prestigious Junior Invitational at Sage Valley with a first-round 75 putting him 11 shots behind leader Miles Russell.

The event is billed as the junior version of The Masters, and takes place at Sage Valley Golf Club in South Carolina just a 20-minute drive away from Augusta National.

Tiger Woods won five Green Jackets but son Charlie is way off the pace in the junior version, which hands out a gold jacket to the winner.

Charlie Woods carded two triple bogeys in his three-over round of 75 while playing alongside top-ranked junior and defending champion Russell - who shot a brilliant eight-under 64.

Asterisk Talley shot 69 to take the first-round lead in the girls division of the Junior Invitational.

Russell, the No.1 in the AJGA Rolex Rankings, won the gold jacket last year and made a great start to his title defence with eight birdies and no bogeys in his first round.

Woods had five birdies himself playing alongside Russell in the star pairing of the competition, but those two triples and two further bogeys resulted in a disappointing start.

It left Woods down in 22nd in a field of just 36, with the 17-year-old having work to do to try and make up ground on junior standout Russell, who like Woods has committed to play college golf at Florida State University.

Woods did show plenty of fight after making his first triple bogey on just the second hole - aptly named Azalea - as he picked up four birdies to level up his card on even par after 13 holes.

He came unstuck with another triple on the 14th though and added another bogey before at least finishing off with a birdie on the last.

It's all about the response for Woods now as Russell, who made the cut in a Korn Ferry Tour event last year at the age of 15, takes a three-shot lead into the second round looking to make it back-to-back victories in the event that's had some famous winners down the years.

None better than Scottie Scheffler who was the Junior Invitational champion back in 2014, and joins the list of previous winners that also includes Akshay Bhatia, Joaquin Niemann and Austin Eckroat.

In the girls event, 2024 champion Talley leads by just a shot after carding four birdies and a bogey in her round of 69, but there are three challengers lining up just a shot back.

They include defending champion Aphrodite Deng who like Russell in the boys competition is looking to go back-to-back at Sage Valley.

Just days after playing up his excitement for the latest TGL encounter, Tom Kim has delivered an incredible win for Jupiter Links with an outrageous hole-in-one.

It's arguably taken some time for the indoor golf venture, founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, to find some momentum and get traditional golfers on board.

However, anyone following TGL, or even those with an appreciation for a wonderful golf shot, will agree that Tom Kim just did something truly special.

Going into the match between Jupiter Links and Bay Golf Club, which was the final of the season for these sides, the Floridian team knew they needed a miracle to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Trailing 6-5 on the penultimate hole, up stepped Kim to take on the 138-yard par-3. To make things even more dramatic, the 23-year-old threw down The Hammer to double the value of the hole. This was all or nothing for his team, and he took it all.

Kim didn't seem to feel the pressure of the occasion at all. He simply hit his wedge shot as smooth as you like, sending it over the flag before watching it roll back perfectly into the hole.

He and the rest of his team, including a surprisingly nimble Tiger, celebrated wildly as only the second hole-in-one in TGL history put them into the lead and on course for a crucial victory.

Now, Woods and McIlroy will see their teams go head-to-head in the playoffs. While the former is unlikely to actually play, he did promise he would be there for the match between Links and Boston Common.

Reflecting on the incredible moment, Woods described this as the "best indoor experience ever." Meanwhile, Kim couldn't believe the wild celebrations, adding: "I’ve never been tackled before."

It's a really important moment for TGL in general, too. At the start of this season, TGL's ratings were worryingly low, while some had even questioned whether the whole TGL venture was worthwhile.

But, in the past couple of weeks, we've seen some truly exciting moments, like Neal Shipley hitting the first-ever ace in TGL, Justin Rose recording an albatross, Rory McIlroy breaking the record for longest-drive, and a few contentious shots some players would probably rather forget.

Funnily enough, Tom Kim foreshadowed this unbelievable situation. On Sunday, after completing his round at the Cognizant Classic, the young golfer admitted the 18 holes he played there were merely a warm-up for TGL action.

He said: "That's all I focused on. I'm serious, I promise you.

"It was a long day, but the whole round I was just thinking about the match tonight and how it's going to be and how I wanted to play and how the prep was going to go."

Looks like all that preparation paid off, and then some.

The USGA has announced it will rename and redesign both the US Amateur Championship medal and the US Junior Amateur Championship trophy to honor Tiger Woods.

In a bid to recognize "one of the most extraordinary competitive careers in the history of the game and his unparalleled résumé in amateur golf," the US Amateur medal will now be titled the Tiger Woods medal while the US Junior Amateur trophy will hence forth be known as the Tiger Woods trophy.

Additionally, the medal will feature an image of Woods' iconic celebration and the trophy will see the fresh name inscribed on the side of the prestigious piece of silverware.

They will be handed out for the first time in 2026 when the US Junior Amateur occurs at Saucon Valley Country Club in July and the US Amateur takes place at Merion Golf Club in August.

The decision to honor Woods was made in a bid to celebrate the 15-time Major winner's historic achievements in USGA tournaments - specifically his unparalleled run during the 1990s.

Woods remains the only player ever to lift three consecutive US Junior Amateur Championships and three US Amateur Championships. The feat is even more impressive when it's considered the run of victories occurred consecutively between 1991-1996.

The Californian subsequently went on to win the US Open Championship three times throughout his professional career as well - in 2000, 2002 and 2008 - and ties him with Bob Jones as the most successful golfer in USGA history.

In a statement, the USGA's CEO Mike Whan explained why the decision was made. He said: “Tiger Woods redefined what was possible in amateur golf. His achievements as a junior and amateur didn’t just set records - they set a new standard of excellence.

"Naming our US Amateur Medal and US Junior Amateur Trophy in his honor ensures that every future champion is forever connected to a legacy that helped shape the modern game.”

Woods joins Jack Nicklaus (US Open gold medal), Mickey Wright (US Women's Open), and JoAnne Carter (US Women's Amateur) among those to be recognized by the USGA through a medal naming.

Elsewhere in its statement, the USGA went on to pay tribute to Woods' impact on golf "outside of the ropes."

It said: "In addition to his competitive accomplishments, Woods’ influence on the game has extended far outside the ropes.

"He helped introduce golf to new audiences around the world, inspired generations of junior players and elevated the visibility and significance of amateur competition as a pathway to the highest levels of the sport."

Reacting to the news, Woods - who also received the Bob Jones Award in 2024 - said: “The USGA and its championships have played an enormous role in my life.

“The US Junior Amateur and US Amateur were defining moments in my development, both as a golfer and as a person.

"To be recognized in this way is incredibly humbling, and I hope it inspires young players to chase their dreams and appreciate the history and values of the game.”

It's a question of when Tiger Woods will be Ryder Cup captain, and not if, but even that's still up for some debate.

Adare Manor in Ireland hosts the next Ryder Cup in 2027 and the PGA of America needs a solid plan in place as Team USA needs a major bounce-back after what went down at Bethpage Black.

Being able to call on many people's golfing GOAT would be a huge boost to the United States' hopes of ending the humiliating away run that has seen the Stars and Stripes without a win on European soil since 1993.

So, with Europe being so strong at home, and Luke Donald possibly going for a three-peat, should Woods take up the challenge of being Ryder Cup captain this time around?

Our Golf Monthly readers have had their say....

What has Tiger said about Ryder Cup captaincy?

While usually it's the PGA of America having to make a choice, clearly Woods can be captain whenever he wants, and he's already said the ball is very much in his court.

He's also said though that with much of his time taken up by his role shaping the future of the PGA Tour, he fears he may not be able to do the captaincy role justice.

"Yeah, they have asked me for my input on it, and I haven't made my decision yet," Woods said at the Genesis Invitational.

"I'm trying to figure out what we're trying to do with our Tour.

"That's been driving me hours upon hours every day and trying to figure out if I can actually do our team, 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 honorable level."

Your views on Tiger Woods being Ryder Cup captain

A vote on our Golf Monthly social channels was pretty conclusive with just over 63% of voters saying Woods should take up the captaincy.

As is usual with Tiger Woods, everybody's got an opinion, and plenty of you flooded the Golf Monthly Facebook page with your thoughts on the subject.

Many people agree with what one reader Steve Sumpter said, with the American players likely to go all-out to play for their hero.

"I think it’d be a great pic. He has all the credentials. I think the players would also react to him. They all want to impress him."

Chas Howson added: "He’s the first call I’d make. I’d offer it to him first every time until he’s dead."

Not everyone thought Woods would be the right choice though, with Steve Stricker's name mentioned and even a vote for the beaten leader at Bethpage.

Harry Sheridan said: "The USA should learn from Europe and use Keegan Bradley and most of the team members again!! Winning Formula especially when you are not the host country."

Some readers, perhaps European fans, believe Woods being captain would give the hosts an advantage, and were quick to point out his less than stellar Ryder Cup record.

Patrick Arellano: "Ummmmm what does he know about winning in the Ryder cup in his career."

And some have rightly raised the two big questions of whether Woods has enough time on his hands to devote himself to the role, and whether he'd actually rather lead USA on home soil.

There's even some who still fancy he could make the team as a player!

The best reader replies

Here's a pick of the best of your replies on Tiger Woods being Ryder Cup captain, and remember you can still comment on the post on Facebook or leave your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of the article.

Michael Dwyer: "No, wait til home. Not beating them there."

Al Young: "He should get it every year until he’s 80"

Alex Blyth: "I don’t really think he wants to do it. If he needs to be convinced then he’s not the guy."

Darren Wood: "I'd rather see him healthy enough to play more. Maybe the next one at home is TW's turn."

Bany Moises Orozco: "Why not , his body is messed up not his brain... plus who doesn't want Tiger advice on any golf situation."

Stephen Agar: "Yes and yes, he would be a great captain, hope he would also be a playing captain, this would not be good for the Euro team, my money would be on the USA, but I will be batting for Euro."

Johnny Reverb: "I hate to be a naysayer, but I think he would not be a good choice. I love Tiger, but his RC stats are not stellar. Overall a very losing record. And I just dont think he could commit the necessary time required. Let him be a vice-captain, his vibe is always powerful."

Simon Castillo: "Not yet. Next one. Want to see him concentrate on staying healthy and competing in majors this year."

Dale Smith: "Yes...first of all he's absolutely earned it. Second, he has an enormous amount of respect on the PGA Tour with the players. It's a perfect pick."

Back in November 2025, Charlie Woods played a key role in Benjamin School claiming a second Florida Class 1A State Championship in three years, with the 17-year-old rewarded in a ceremony on Tuesday evening.

Standing alongside his fellow Benjamin School boys golf team, Charlie and those present were gifted celebratory rings for their accomplishments, with Charlie's parents - Tiger Woods and Elin Nordergren - in attendance for the ceremony.

The duo were also present for Charlie's medal ceremony in 2023, when his school side secured the State Championship for that year.

Taking place a few days after the Genesis Invitational, which Tiger hosted at Riviera, the trio were seen posing for photos, as Charlie was joined on stage by the 15-time Major winner, as well as his mother, Nordergren.

In fact, both Woods and Nordergren were spotted watching Charlie at the Class 1A Region 4 tournament for the State Championship, a tournament in which Benjamin School finished second.

Firing a one-over score in tough conditions at the regional event in Florida, Woods Jr then played a key role in his side's State Championship victory, as he carded a two-over 74 first round, before following it up with a four-under 68 second day.

After the first day, Benjamin were as many as 11 strokes off the lead, but thanks to Woods and his teammates, they were able to claim the State Championship title by five strokes from Orlando's First Academy, making up for last year's disappointment when Benjamin finished second.

Speaking to ESPN West Palm, Benjamin's golf coach Toby Harbeck stated: "Everyone is different, but this one they were so dominant...

"They set a record this year. The FHSA has kept records for 83 years and the score they shot this year was the second lowest in State history. They shot 11-under on the first day back nine, which is a State record.

"This is probably the most dominant team I've ever had and they've played well all year. I'm so proud of them and so glad they finished it off. People don't realize how hard it is to repeat (victories), especially with the amount of quality talent.

"We're the kings right now and we've got to keep pushing forward."

Recently, Charlie committed to Florida State University where he will join his classmates in 2027. As of writing, he is ranked 20th in the American Junior Golf Association, with his biggest victory coming at the Team TaylorMade Invitational back in May 2025.

Tiger Woods isn’t playing in this year’s Genesis Invitational, with the 15-time Major winner still recovering from the back surgery he underwent in October.

Despite that, he is still very much a part of the Riviera Country Club tournament as its host, and he made his way to the CBS broadcast booth during the third round, where he discussed a range of issues with Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman.

One of the big questions on everyone’s lips is just when we might see Woods in action again, with the 50-year-old’s last competitive appearance, a handful of TGL starts aside, coming at the 2024 Open.

As well as his latest surgery, Woods has also had to deal with recovery from surgery on his Achilles since the Royal Troon Major, as well as the death of his mother Kultida, which have all contributed to his long absence.

However, there are hints he may not be far away from a return. In his pre-tournament press conference, Woods was asked if an appearance at April’s Masters was off the table, and raised hopes by responding with a simple, “No.”

With that tantalising prospect still alive, it was little wonder that the subject came up during his conversation with Nantz and Immelman.

First, Woods confirmed he would be in the area to open a new layout he has designed at Augusta Municipal Golf Course, renamed The Patch, but also that he would be at Augusta National for the annual Champions Dinner.

He said: "I know I'll be there. We're going to open up The Patch and Trevor and I are going to be part of a great dinner.”

He remained noncommittal on his chances of teeing it up at Augusta National, but didn’t rule it out before hinting he could even play an event beforehand, saying: “I don't know that. I don't know. Whether it's regular tour, senior tour or member guest, I don't know."

It isn’t just Woods’ playing ambitions that are on his mind. He also chairs the PGA Tour’s Future Competition Committee, which was established last August to undertake a review of the current competitive model of the circuit and help shape its future.

Woods seemed optimistic a conclusion could be reached in time for the 2027 season, and said: “Yeah, we're trying to figure out the competitive model. What is the best model for all of the Tour?

"Whether it's our partners, the fans, the players, everyone who's actually involved in the PGA Tour? What is the best model we can go on a forward end?

"That's the job of the FCC, and we're trying to diligently, each and every day, trying to figure that out, and emails, group text, calls, late in the night, ideas, everything is free-flow. So we're trying to narrow that up, and we have another meeting on Tuesday with it."

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has suggested that the new PGA Tour will be focused on fewer, but more important, events to increase competitiveness, while Harris English has hinted that a post-Super Bowl start to the season could be in the offing.

Woods wouldn’t confirm the finer details, but said: “Nothing’s set in stone where, as I said, we're free flowing, trying to create the best model going forward, and all of our, some point, all of our media partners understand that

"We've had talks with every sponsor of every event. From the president, from the CEOs to the CFOs, CEOs.

"So we've had all those conversations and people are willing to move around the schedule and do what's best, and we want to have, as I said, the best environment, the best tour, and keep elevating our tour to be even better than what it is right now."

At the Genesis Invitational, many of the world’s highest-profile players are competing, but there are still some big names missing from the Signature Event, and none bigger than Tiger Woods.

Despite that, as tournament host, Woods still spoke to the media before the first round at Riviera Country Club, and confirmed he was back to hitting full shots, so when might he return?

A handful of TGL appearances in 2025 aside, the 15-time Major winner, hasn’t played competitively since the 2024 PNC Championship, while his last big event came at that year’s Open, where he missed the cut.

His prolonged absence is largely down to his latest injury setbacks, namely Achilles surgery, which he underwent in March 2025, followed by his third surgery in 13 months, on his back, last October. But when could he return?

Assuming Woods decides against playing in the Cognizant Classic, the Valspar Championship, the Texas Children’s Houston Open and the Valero Texas Open in the coming weeks, that leaves three huge events in the immediate schedule. But could he make his comeback in any of them?

Arnold Palmer Invitational

Talking to the media before the Genesis Invitational, Woods refused to give a date for his comeback.

He also confirmed that, while he has recovered from his Achilles surgery, his latest back surgery had been particularly difficult, saying: “Well, the disc replacement has been one thing. It's been a challenge to - I've had a fused back and now a disc replacement, so it's challenging.”

Despite that slightly downbeat assessment, there was some good news, as he confirmed he was back to hitting full shots. So, could he play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational?

Woods is eligible thanks to his past champion status, while in any case, a special exemption category was created for him in 2024, which allows him to play in any Signature Event he chooses.

He has had huge success at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, too, winning it on eight occasions. However, it seems unlikely he will play given his reluctance to set a comeback date and how close the event is, beginning just 11 days after the Genesis Invitational ends.

Woods also said in his press conference that his back is still “sore.” Given that, the Arnold Palmer Invitational likely comes a little too soon for his return.

The Players Championship? Unlikely

The PGA Tour’s flagship event comes just a week after the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Obviously, the extra time would work in Woods’ favor, but even if he feels ready to play at TPC Sawgrass, there’s another issue – eligibility.

The Players Championship is not a Signature Event, but thanks to his 2019 Masters win, Woods had a guaranteed start through 2025.

However, that has now lapsed, and with no other way to make it into the field without doing something special at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, we won’t see him at the event this year.

The Masters

For all the subjects Woods touched on during his press conference, one word was all it took to cut to the chase. He was asked if The Masters was off the table. His response? “No.”

The last time Woods played at the Major, in 2024, he defied the odds to make his 24th consecutive cut at the event. He’ll surely relish the chance to make that 25 in his latest comeback from injury, with the Augusta National event looking the most likely time we'll next see him play.

What Could Tiger Woods' 2026 Schedule Look Like?

It’s likely Woods will target a start in all four Majors in 2026 if his body allows it, while he would surely love to play in another tournament he hosts, the Hero World Challenge, as well as the PNC Championship alongside son Charlie, with both coming in December.

Woods turned 50 in December, also making him eligible for the PGA Tour Champions. So, could we see him play on the veterans circuit this year, as well as Majors and his other regular appearances?

It certainly seems that way, given his openness to the idea during his Genesis Invitational press conference.

Crucially, Woods also seemed willing to consider using a cart on the PGA Tour Champions, something he’s always ruled out on the PGA Tour.

He said: “Now I entered a new decade, so that number is starting to sink in and has us thinking about the opportunity to be able to play in a cart.

“That's something that, as I said, I won't do out here on this tour because I don't believe in it. But on the Champions Tour, that's certainly that opportunity.”

However, a potential PGA Tour Champions career opens up more possibilities as to how his 2026 schedule might play out.

Woods would have the chance to win a record 10th USGA title at the US Senior Open, while another senior event he could target is the Insperity Invitational, as he is a brand ambassador for the company.

One PGA Tour Champions player who believes Woods could appear at the May event is Tommy Gainey.

Talking to Colt & Drew on Gravy & The Sleeze on Sirius XM PGA Tour in January, he said: "He signed a deal with Insperity. You could see it on his sleeve, so that's good news.

"I will let people think maybe what they want to think on that, but that tells me that if he's able to play, he's going to play in that one."

There could be a gap in Woods' schedule after July's Open, so could he also play in another PGA Tour Champions event, October's Constellation Furyk & Friends?

It's not out of the question, with the event taking place close to his Florida home and all proceeds going to Northeast Florida charities.

Here’s how a realistic schedule might look in the coming months, not including any Signature Events he may also consider.

Tiger Woods Predicted 2026 Schedule?

• April 9th-12th: The Masters
• May 8th-10th: Insperity Invitational
• May 14th-17th: PGA Championship
• June 18th-21st: US Open
• July 2nd-5th: US Senior Open
• July 16th-19th: The Open
• October 9th-11th: Constellation Furyk & Friends
• December 3rd-6th: Hero World Challenge
• December 19th-20th: PNC Championship

Tiger Woods says The Masters is not off the table as the 15-time Major winner continues his recovery from his seventh back surgery in October.

The 82-time PGA Tour winner was speaking to the media ahead of the Genesis Invitational, which he hosts, where he revealed he is back hitting full shots again, having not played a tournament since the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Woods gave an update on his health in a wide-ranging press conference, and gave a firm "no" with a smile when asked if The Masters is "off the table" with the year's first men's Major less than two months away.

The five-time Green Jacket winner missed last year's Masters but made the cut for a record 24th consecutive year in 2024.

The tournament host turned 50 in December and as well as regular PGA Tour events and Majors, he is now eligible for the PGA Tour Champions, where he can used a cart - and that's something he sounds open to.

"Well, I'm trying, put it that way," he responded when asked how close he is to a return.

"The disc replacement has been one thing. I've had a fused back and now a disc replacement, so it's challenging.

"And now I entered a new decade, so that number is starting to sink in and has us thinking about the opportunity to be able to play in a cart.

"That's something that, as I said, I won't do out here on this tour because I don't believe in it.

"But on the Champions Tour, that's certainly that opportunity."

Woods also gave an update on his ankle, which he says is no longer an issue after rupturing his left achilles tendon last March.

"Yeah, the achilles was not an issue. I can't dunk a basketball anymore, so don't have to worry about that," he said.

"As far as the disc replacement, it's just sore. It takes time. Willy Z [Will Zalatoris] went through it, and it took him a while to come back. I'm a little bit older than Willy Z.

"It's probably going to take me a little bit longer. My body has been through a lot.

"It's just one of those things where it's each and every day, I keep trying, I keep progressing, I keep working on it, trying to get stronger, trying to get more endurance in this body and trying to get it at a level at which I can play at the highest level again."

Woods also paid tribute to Anthony Kim after the three-time PGA Tour winner won his first professional title in 16 years at LIV Golf Adelaide this weekend following 12 years away from the game.

Woods was still in his prime when Kim burst onto the scene and said "you have to wrap your heart around" the 40-year-old's inspiring comeback.

"Yeah, this kid hit it so good. He was on an unbelievable run when he won at Charlotte, and we played each other at Congressional. He played unbelievable at the 2008 Ryder Cup," Woods said.

"He had so much natural talent. He could hit any shot he wanted. Then to see him struggle in life and didn't really want to play golf, didn't really want to be part of golf, and for him to come all the way back and for him to win and to be as devoted as he is to his family, it's a story in which you just have to wrap your heart around it because of the struggles.

"We can all relate to struggles. We all struggle in life. The longer it goes, the more tough times you've had.

"But for him to fight through it and for Anthony to get to where he's gotten to, from the low that he was in, is something that, as I said, you have to just wrap your heart around it."

Woods wears many hats these days, from his personal life to his golfing comeback and his position on the PGA Tour board, which is keeping him busy with huge schedule changes potentially on the horizon.

Then there's the small matter of the Ryder Cup captaincy, which he says he has been asked about after turning it down for Bethpage Black last year due to his busy schedule.

He remains undecided on whether he can take the job on.

"Yeah, they have asked me for my input on it, and I haven't made my decision yet," he said.

"I'm trying to figure out what we're trying to do with our tour.

"That's been driving me hours upon hours every day and trying to figure out if I can actually do our team, 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 honorable level."

Woods also touched on the schedule changes he is working on for the 2026 PGA Tour season, which are complex enough to potentially be rolled out over both the '26 and '27 campaigns.

"It's been quite a challenge," he admitted.

"It's quite a bit of a challenge on both sides, from the physical golf side of it for me, from trying to do the right thing for all of our membership and our partners and everyone who's associated with the PGA Tour, and trying to do that and trying to make our product even better going forward, given the challenges we have to face.

"I thought I spent a lot of hours practicing in my prime. It doesn't even compare to what we've done in the boardroom.

"It's been challenging. We're trying to do the right thing. We're making some great strides. The player directors have been unbelievable with their time and their focus and the depth of knowledge and perspective.

"Then we've had unbelievable board members that come from all walks of life that are wanting to make our tour better and wanting to make our product better."

"Well, I think it's trying to serve literally everyone, from the player side of it, from our media partners, from all of our title sponsors, from the local communities or even changing venues and going to bigger markets.

"It's what do we need to do from a competitive model to make our tour the best product it can possibly be each and every year and still have room for development.

"How do we do all of that at the same time? That's been the challenging part because there's been a lot of moving parts over the last couple years to try and get us into the position that we're in now with the FCC [Future Competitions Committee] or the boards being unified and linked together and working together.

"It's been a lot of moving parts, but it's been in sync. We've had a lot of information thrown our way, which has been great. Everyone is working collaboratively together.

"That's where I was hesitant that we were going to have - we were going to be in this position where we were going to work together like this and function at a level to make our product better. But everyone is.

"Everyone is trying to make the PGA Tour the best tour in the world, make it better than what it is now. For the players, so that they can come out here at a younger age, an opportunity like a 16 year old kid here in Riviera in 1992 got an opportunity to play.

"Trying to give that opportunity and those opportunities to these players and the next generations or the generations to come.

"We would like to have it happen in 2027. We may have to roll it out over a couple-year period.

"We may not be able to implement all of it in 2027, but there will definitely be parts of it integrated or changed than from what it is now in '26 into '27."

One big potential change reportedly on the table is a post-Super Bowl season start, which would mean an upheaval of the January-February Hawaii and West Coast events. Torrey Pines has reportedly been mooted as a potential Playoffs event in August and Woods said the Genesis Invitational moving is a possibility, too.

"Well, I think that, one, you're going to get weather not like this," he said on what the positives of moving the Genesis to later in the year.

"That's number one. We're going to have perfect days. It's always perfect in So Cal here in August.

"So yes, we're looking at things like that, looking to go to bigger markets later in the year for the Playoffs.

"Just trying to make our competitive model better, and how do we do that. I think that is one of the options you mentioned with Genesis. That's certainly is on the table."

One-time PGA Tour winner Sahith Theegala has been chosen by tournament host Tiger Woods as the recipient of the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption into the 2026 Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.

The Sifford exemption has been presented annually since 2009 and gives a deserving golfer from a minority background the opportunity to play in The Genesis Invitational.

Previous recipients have included Marcus Byrd, Cameron Champ, JJ Spaun and Harold Varner III while last year's beneficiary was Danny List.

The special exemption was designed to continue Sifford's legacy by "recognizing players whose journeys reflect the power of opportunity, perseverance and progress in the game of golf," per a statement announcing the news.

The statement went on to say that "perseverance helped propel Sifford to opportunities on the golf course, and his belief in earning opportunity through performance remains central to the exemption."

Explaining the reasons Theegala was chosen, Woods said: "During Charlie’s playing days, all he wanted was an opportunity to compete with the best players in the world so he could showcase his game, and Sahith shares those same characteristics.

“I am proud to welcome Sahith to the field for The Genesis Invitational, a tournament that shares a lot of meaning for us both.”

Theegala - who was born in Fullerton, California and raised in Chino Hills by his parents who immigrated to the United States from India - also reacted to his inclusion ahead of a sixth appearance in the event.

He said: “Receiving this special invitation from Tiger is an honor.

“The Genesis Invitational has played an important role in my journey to the PGA Tour, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to compete in Charlie’s memory.”

Theegala has played in the Genesis Invitational five times previously, making his PGA Tour debut as a Pepperdine University student at the 2017 running and achieving a best finish of T6th in 2023.

Coincidentally, Theegala went on to make his first professional appearance on the PGA Tour at the Travelers Championship - the tournament Sifford won for his first victory.

Following a highly disappointing campaign last year in which Theegala battled a neck injury and ultimately finished the season 147th in the FedEx Cup standings, the 2023 Fortinet Championship winner will hope to continue what has been a highly promising start to 2026 next week.

Theegala was T31st at the Sony Open but then finished T8th at the American Express and T7th at the Farmers Insurance Open.

The Californian subsequently ended the WM Phoenix Open T18th after being presented with the first of three successive sponsor's exemptions.

He is currently competing at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on a sponsor's exemption and will make it three events in a row at Riviera between February 19-22.

Florida State University has won the race to sign Tiger Woods' son Charlie, after the junior golf star verbally committed to play collegiately for FSU.

The 16-year-old, who attends the prestigious Benjamin High School, wrote on Instagram: "Excited to announce my commitment to play golf at Florida State University - go Noles!"

Woods will join his classmates in 2027 where he will play alongside Miles Russell, the no.1-ranked junior golfer in the world who made the cut in a Korn Ferry Tour event last year at the age of 15.

The university, located in Tallahassee, has a long history of producing world class golfers including Paul Azinger, Brooks Koepka, Daniel Berger and, more recently, Lottie Woad and Luke Clanton.

Woods jr. will remain in Florida for his university life and, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, has opted not to follow his dad's path in attending Stanford University in California and join up with his sister, Sam, who is currently in her freshman year there.

Charlie currently sits 21st in the AJGA rankings after winning his first AJGA-sanctioned title last year at the Team TaylorMade Invitational.

He also played in the US Junior Amateur Championship for the second consecutive year and finished inside the top-10 at the Boy's Junior PGA Championship.

Woods currently ranks ninth in the class of 2027.

This Week In Golf: Our regular look at the biggest stories in professional golf, tournament previews and other key details you need to know.

The first few days of February have been action-packed with stories from across the major tours arriving thick and fast.

Last week saw the return of Brooks Koepka to the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour made its bow for 2026 and there was even more movement in the LIV Golf League via Patrick Reed's exit.

And with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour seasons continuing on at the weekend before the NFL's Super Bowl takes centre stage on Sunday night, there is sure to be plenty more in the way of incident until then.

Below is a round-up of some of the biggest stories yet to unfold this week as well as some of the key ones you may have missed.

TIGER WOODS GIVES PESSIMISTIC RETURN UPDATE

Tiger Woods has admitted it will still be "some time" before he's back playing competitive golf again as he continues to recover from his latest back surgery.

Woods went under the knife back in October and said in December that he was back to chipping and putting but shared he was "still a ways away" from returning to full strength.

Speaking after Jupiter Links' 8-6 win over Atlanta Drive GC in TGL on Monday, the 15-time Major winner revealed he was certainly not close to competing again.

He said: "“Playing here in [TGL]? I don't know. I like watching these guys. As far as competitive golf, it’s still some time.”

Woods last played a tour-level event at the 2024 Open Championship and did appear in several TGL matches last term before an Achilles injury put him out of action once more.

Now aged 50, he could come back and play the PGA Tour Champions - which permits the use of a cart - in 2026, but Woods' schedule clearly remains up in the air at this stage.

LIV EARNS OWGR POINTS

LIV Golf has finally been given the green light to offer OWGR points at its events from this week, but it's still not completely happy.

The OWGR announced on Tuesday that the top-10 finishers in LIV Golf events from LIV Golf Riyadh would earn world-ranking points, but LIV argued the decision "disproportionately harms" its players who finish just outside those spots before going on to claim that "no other competitive tour or league in OWGR history has been subjected to such a restriction."

LIV RETURNS (WITH MULTIPLE FIELD CHANGES)

The LIV Golf League is back underway in 2026, but there have been a few late alterations to the field in Riyadh.

Phil Mickelson shared he had to remain in the USA to take care of a "family health matter" while Lee Westwood revealed he had injured his wrist in the days leading up to the opening tournament in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Patrick Reed's late exit for the PIF-backed circuit left 4Aces GC with a spare spot on its roster.

Mickelson has been replaced by Ollie Schniederjans for the first event while Westwood's place has been taken by young Englishman, Ben Schmidt. Miguel Tabuena - a reserve player for 2026 - has stepped in to fill Reed's shoes for the time being.

LPGA CHIEF APOLOGIZES FOR CONFUSION

LPGA Tour commissioner Craig Kessler has apologized to players after the circuit's controversial decision to cut the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions down to 54 holes on Sunday.

With temperatures hovering around freezing at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club at the weekend, the call was made to allow all players to complete three rounds before naming a champion thereafter.

However, confusion caused by a number of decisions the LPGA Tour made - which included allowing the celebrity tournament to play nine holes - and contradictory statements left hoards of people unhappy.

In response, Kessler wrote a letter to LPGA Tour members in which he apologized for the way the whole incident was handled.

He said: "I made the decision to limit the event to 54 holes, worried that our athletes might be injured given the way record overnight low temperatures hardened the course.

"While the decision was a tough one and ran counter to prior statements we shared, I made a judgement call. With the benefit of hindsight, there were clearly other ways we should have managed the situation.

"I recognize this decision, and others we made in real time, were confusing and disappointing to our fans. And our communication around the decision wasn’t clear or timely enough. Your frustration is valid — I own that, and I’m sorry."

Kessler went on to say that the tour is "taking steps to improve" and that they will learn from the weekend in order to regain players' trust moving forward.

LET ANNOUNCES RECORD PRIZE MONEY

The Ladies European Tour has announced a record prize fund of over 40 million euros ($47 million) for the 2026 season.

La Sella Open, which is one of 30 events on the schedule this year, revealed its prize fund to be $1 million this year, which in turn took the overall prize pot to its highest ever level in 48 seasons.

In a statement, the LET said that a third of its tournaments will now have prize purses of at least seven figures while 10 events have increased their total payout from last term.

The new LET season begins next week with the $5 million PIF Saudi Ladies International in Riyadh.

WM PHOENIX OPEN

Scottie Scheffler headlines the field at the 2026 WM Phoenix Open as the PGA Tour continues its West Coast Swing with the 'Greatest Show On Grass.'

Scheffler has won this event twice before but not since 2023. Since then, Nick Taylor and Thomas Detry have reigned supreme, but the latter is not playing this year following his move to LIV.

TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course is famous for its Stadium Hole, the par-3 16th which is believed to hold up to 20,000 spectators at any one time.

Anyone who makes a hole-in-one there is promptly showered with cans of beer and earns their name onto a permanent board which stands by the tee box.

• Read More: WM Phoenix Open betting tips 2026
• Read More: WM Phoenix Open tee times 2026

QATAR MASTERS

The DP World Tour season continues on with a much more serene tournament in Qatar.

Held at Doha GC, a new champion is set to be crowned in 2026 after last year's winner, Haotong Li, crossed over to the PGA Tour at the start of the season.

This week's event also marks the midway point of the International Swing, with a $2.75 million prize purse up for grabs.

AFRICA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

The third edition of the Africa Amateur Championship is taking place this week at Royal Johannesburg in South Africa.

Started in 2024, the Africa Amateur Championship offers spots into several prestigious events including The Amateur Championship and The Open Championship to its winner.

Bryan Newman claimed victory last year at the tender age of 17 but went on to miss the cut at Royal Portrush.

MINI TWIGS - WHAT ELSE TO KNOW

• Rory McIlroy has committed to July's Genesis Scottish Open
• The Asian Tour's Singapore Open will offer two spots into The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale later this year
• Joel Dahmen successfully applied for a WM Phoenix Open sponsor's exemption via a unique and cheeky method
• LIV Golf revealed a huge cut to its season-long championship bonus money payout
• Jupiter Links defeated Atlanta Drive 8-6 on Monday night to hand the Georgia-based side its first TGL loss of the season while claiming its debut win
• British businessman Peter Jones and his investment group have completed the purchase of American Golf, the UK’s largest golf retailer from private equity investors, Endless LLP (“Endless”)
• Nicolas Colsaerts and Brett Rumford have joined the LIV Golf broadcast team for 2026
• Padraig Harrington is in the Qatar Masters field and will make his 500th DP World Tour start

Tiger Woods became eligible for the PGA Tour Champions when he turned 50 on December 30, 2025 - and rumors about if, and when, he will play on the senior circuit have been circulating in the golf world ever since.

Tommy Gainey, also a member of the '50 club', gained his first PGA Tour Champions victory at the Constellation Furyk & Friends last year, says he's confident that Woods will make his debut in May.

Talking to Colt & Drew on Gravy & The Sleeze on Sirius XM PGA Tour, the player known as "Two Gloves" who was named PGA Tour Champions Rookie of the Year, said, "I do think he's going to play out here [the PGA Tour Champions]."

Gainey, a huge Woods fan, has done his homework, and points to the deal he signed with Insperity as a good signal that the 15-time Major winner will tee it up at the Insperity Invitational in Texas.

Insperity, a human resources and business solutions company, is one of Woods' sponsors, and it's also the title sponsor of the tournament at Woodlands Country Club, which takes place May 8-10.

"He signed a deal with Insperity. You could see it on his sleeve, so that's good news," said Gainey.

"I will let people think maybe what they want to think on that, but that tells me that if he's able to play, he's going to play in that one."

Woods continues to recover from injury and was unable to take part in TGL in January, as his Jupiter Links Golf Club side went down 8-4 to Los Angeles Golf Club.

Speaking at the Hero World Challenge in December, an event Woods hosts, he said that his ongoing recovery from lumbar disc replacement surgery was not going "as fast as I'd like it to be".

"I just got cleared last week to chip and putt so it’s good. It’s been slow," he said.

"I can’t really do much [but] now we’ve got the OK to start cranking up a little bit in the gym, start strengthening and start doing a little bit more of the rotational component that I haven’t been able to do [and] just letting the disc set."

He also joked that he would be playing 25 events on both the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions this year.

"No, just let me get back to playing again, and then I’ll figure out what the schedule is going to be.

"I’m a ways away from that type of decision, that type of commitment level."

Gainey - who recently pulled out of the opening Korn Ferry Tour event in order to give a young up-and-comer a chance of breaking through - remains hopeful that Woods will turn his attention to the PGA Tour Champions once he's fit.

"I would love to be paired with him going into the final round with a chance to win a golf tournament against him," he said.

"That would be, like, a dream come true. Everybody knows he was the man on the PGA Tour."

Woods might not feeling too thrilled to have recently turned 50, but Gainey is delighted for what it could mean for the senior circuit.

He added: "I'm just so happy he's 50, because you know what, he's going to bring more eyes to the PGA Tour Champions and that's never going to hurt."

While plenty changed (or remained frustratingly stagnant) in the world of golf during 2025, there continued to be an extraordinary amount of money on offer to those fighting it out at the top of the professional game.

The PGA Tour shared out over half a billion dollars in prize money while the LIV Golf League put up more than $260 million across its much shorter season.

Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour offered a record amount of prize money last year at more than $132 million. And yet, according to data from Sportico, not only did no female golfers make the top-100 highest-paid athletes last year, no female from any sport earned enough to be included.

The top-100 highest-paid athletes in the world during 2025 earned an estimated $6 billion in income and competed in just eight different sports - golf being one of them.

World soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo led the way with an incredible $260 million while the 100th-ranked athlete - British NBA talent OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks - banked a healthy $37.9 million in 2025. In between were six golfers, three fewer than in 2024.

Xander Schauffele, Tyrrell Hatton and Collin Morikawa all scooped between $55m-$43m last year, but their income dipped considerably over the following 12 months and they were no longer on the list.

Of the remaining six, a couple of golfers have swapped in terms of the order while most have changed positions in terms of the top-100.

Leading the way for golf in 2025 was Jon Rahm. Per Sportico, the Spaniard earned an eye-watering $84.7 million before adding $16 million in endorsements to reach a grand total of $100.7 million.

According to the sports business title, many of the top LIV golfers received around half of their bonus payment for signing up front and another portion when they played their first event.

The remaining part of the signing bonus is reportedly paid out during the life of the contract, hence the significant boost in Rahm's earnings after the total prize money he claimed in 2025.

The Legion XIII captain - who failed to win a tournament during this time but still claimed LIV Golf's individual championship - earned around $4 million less than in 2024 but stayed in 10th position, just as he was last year.

Then came Rory McIlroy with a total income of $91.2 million, helped considerably by his win at The Masters, his victory at The Players Championship and his success on the DP World Tour as well.

Despite collecting just over $36 million in prize money, the five-time Major winner was one of two golfers in the top-100 list to secure more through endorsements with a total of $55 million leaving him 14th in terms of highest-paid athletes.

Just two spots behind McIlroy was Scottie Scheffler. The World No.1 earned $50.9 million in 2025 and banked $32 million through endorsements to enjoy a total income of $82.9 million.

Bryson DeChambeau was the fourth and final golfer to fall inside the top-25, proving just how lucrative the sport is in the modern era.

The Crushers GC captain scooped $42.7 million via salary and winnings while adding on a further $20 million and sitting 23rd in the top-100.

The final two pro golfers inside the top-100 highest-paid athletes for 2025 were Joaquin Niemann and unsurprisingly, Tiger Woods.

Niemann won five LIV Golf League titles to rack up an impressive $44.2 million in earnings but only banked $3 million in endorsements. That left him 63rd.

Meanwhile, Woods picked up less than $500,000 in earnings but - thanks to his status as arguably the greatest of all time - clinched $54 million in endorsements to put him 41st.

HIGHEST PAID GOLFERS 2025

Tiger Woods says Brooks Koepka's PGA Tour return is a "win for everyone" and has given an update on his recovery from his latest back surgery.

The 15-time Major winner was in the SoFi Center for Jupiter Links' first TGL match of the year, which resulted in a heavy 8-3 defeat to New York GC.

Woods spoke to media following the match, where he gave an update on Brooks Koepka's immediate return to the PGA Tour following his departure from LIV Golf.

Koepka will make his first PGA Tour start in almost four years in two weeks' time at the Farmers Insurance Open, having been allowed to return straight away while facing a number of sanctions through the new Returning Member Program.

Woods, who is on the PGA Tour board, says the executives were working every day through the holidays to try and come up with a formal process, and he believes the scheme they've come up with has struck the perfect balance.

"Well, we received his letter on December 23rd that he wants to come back," Woods said on Koepka's return.

"He wrote to the commissioner and Brian [Rolapp, CEO]. We took that letter and then took it to both boards and tried to implement a plan that would be fair and adequate, that justifies Brooks' time away from our tour, the penalties served, the fines if necessary, what the integration would look like on our tour, and obviously the bonus payouts, yes or no.

"We had lots of subsequent meetings, worked through the holidays. There were no days off. We just worked through it day after day after day, and we came out with a plan that we unveiled.

"Yes, we're not going to satisfy every player. This plan was created for a very select few players that met the criteria. You know the names.

"As far as his integration, he has the right, I think, in our sport, with our meritocracy that we have on the PGA Tour, that he has the right to earn his way into Signature Events, and if he plays well enough, he has a chance to earn his way into the Playoffs.

"But he's not going to get the bonus pool from that. But he has a chance to earn his way into those fields.

"Plus on top of that, he's not taking a spot away from any player. That was one of the main concerns and one of the big things that myself and the other player directors demanded, that that was never going to be the case.

"He's an additive, and then on top of that, to fill out the group, or if it happens to be in the summer where it's twosomes or if it happens to be threesomes, there's two more players that could get in.

"The alternate list, I think they're going to be impacted getting in one or two more events, which is a positive thing, and on top of that, we get a probably top-three-of-his-generation player back that went to another tour, played over there, and was adamant about coming back here and got out early to come back.

"That says a lot about the PGA Tour, where we're headed, what we have done, what we accomplished and the players who have stayed and who have supported the Tour.

"Having another world-class player that these guys are going to try and beat, that's what the fans demanded. That's what the fans wanted for our fan initiative program, and I think we've addressed that.

Woods says the executives have been "rolling through" various scenarios for returning LIV players since they had a meeting at the White House in February. He accepts some might not be overly happy with the decision but says it's a win for "everyone" thanks to the Player Equity Program, which sees tour members own a stake of the business.

"Yes, there are opinions from both sides. We're not going to satisfy everyone," he said.

"We know that. But the whole idea is to make our tour better than what it was. With Brooks' addition to the Tour, it does. It makes it a better place to play.

"Now with players who have earned equity, and there are four more years of potential earning of equity for these players, the fact that they own the Tour, if Brooks plays, it puts more money in their pocket. It's a win for everyone."

Woods was also spotted hitting some shots in the TGL stadium prior to the match, having said last month he had only been cleared to hit chip shots and putts. He had his seventh back surgery in October and seems to be making good progress.

"Well, I'm moving up to short irons, so that's about it," he said of his fitness.

"I need a little bit more than that to be able to play here.

"At my speed right now, I could probably play the Stinger hole. Just kind of roll it off the tee.

"But no, I'm progressing, which is nice. I'm getting there and getting stronger.

"It's just one of those things where it just takes so much time for the bone to heal and the bone to set."