Days after reports surfaced that Tiger Woods would appear in the seventh iteration of The Match it has been confirmed that the 15 time-Major winner will compete alongside Rory McIlroy as they take on Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in the made-for-TV exhibition event on 10 December at Tampa’s Pelican Golf Club.
Thomas revealed the news via his Instagram account where he posted a video trailer of the upcoming event and wrote: “@jordanspieth looks like we got some competition! Looking forward to a fun match under the lights against @tigerwoods and @rorymcilroy while we raise money for Hurricane Ian relief. Mental prep for the FedEx Cup and major championship jokes starts now!”
It will not be the first time Woods has taken part in the event. He also played in the 2018 tournament where he lost in a head-to-head match play challenge against Phil Mickelson. Woods then returned in 2020 and this time had the upper hand against Mickelson and Tom Brady when he teamed up with Peyton Manning. However, for World No.1 McIlroy, three-time Major winner Spieth and PGA Champion Thomas, it marks their debuts in the event. In another first, the tournament will also be played under floodlights.
However, it is likely to be Woods' appearance that will spark the most interest given he has not played in a tournament since July’s 150th Open at St Andrews. That marked the American's third appearance of the year as he recovers from a horrific leg injury sustained in a car accident in February 2021
The 46-year-old has had mixed fortunes since his first appearance of the year in the Masters at Augusta National. While he completed that tournament and finished a creditable 47th, he had to withdraw from June’s PGA Championship after three rounds with his injury still bothering him.
After opting not to play in the third Major of the year, the US Open, Woods was still far from his best in his most recent appearance and missed the cut. The week before next month’s event, Woods hosts the Hero World Challenge. However, he is currently not listed in the preliminary field for the tournament.
The previous edition of The Match was held in Nevada in June and featured an all-American football quarterback lineup of Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.
-
Tripp Isenhour Facts: 10 Things To Know About The Golf Channel BroadcasterTripp Isenhour has been a Golf Channel regular since 2008 - here are 10 things to know about the former pro
-
Adam Sandler Hints At Jack Nicklaus Appearance In Happy Gilmore 2 MovieThe actor, who plays the protagonist in the movie, appeared on the Dan Patrick Show to explain Nicklaus’s role in the sequel
-
Watch: Tiger Woods Takes Swing At TGL SimulatorThe 15-time Major winner has been filmed taking a shot at the TGL’s giant simulator ahead of the contest’s launch in January
-
'It Was Really About Us Taking This Into Our Own Hands' - McIlroy On How PGA Tour-LIV Golf Showdown Came To FruitionRory McIlroy says the players organized the PGA Tour-LIV Golf Showdown match themselves to show fans they're trying to bring the sport back together
-
Tiger Woods To Make PNC Championship Return Alongside Son CharlieThe 15-time Major winner is set to tee it up for the first time since back surgery in September, with Team Woods making their fifth appearance in the tournament
-
‘To Say That McIlroy’s Season Was Not A Success Is Wide Of The Mark’To say it's been a dramatic 2024 for Rory McIlroy is a bit of an understatement, with the four-time Major winner going through multiple highs and lows this year
-
The Equipment Change That Gained Justin Thomas 10 Yards At Hero World ChallengeJustin Thomas produced a fine performance in the Bahamas partly down to a change of driver shaft that resulted in added distance off the tee
-
Tiger Woods Coy Over PNC Championship ReturnSpeaking to NBC’s Dan Hicks during the final round of the Hero World Challenge, the 15-time Major winner gave a rather muted response to when his return may happen
-
'A Natural Fit' - Tiger Woods Backs Keegan Bradley US Ryder CaptaincyThe 15-time Major winner made his remarks during an appearance in the NBC Sports broadcasting booth in the final round of the Hero World Challenge
-
Hero World Challenge Final Round Tee TimesScottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas will go out together in round four of the Hero World Challenge, with the latter holding a one-stroke lead...
