GOLF: Woods won't rule out playing in this year's Masters

Tiger Woods, still recovering from back surgery last October, has not set a target date for his long-awaited return to competition but said Tuesday he has not ruled out playing in this year’s Masters.

Speaking to reporters ahead of this week’s Genesis Invitational in Pacific Palisades, California, where he serves as tournament host, Woods was asked if the April 9-12 Masters was off the table.

“No,” Woods, who has not competed since missing the cut at the 2024 British Open, replied with a broad smile.

The 15-time major champion, who also underwent surgery in March 2025 to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon, received clearance last December to resume chipping and putting for the first time since his lumbar disc replacement surgery.

Regarding his Achilles, Woods said it is no longer a problem, but his back remains sore.

“As far as the disc replacement, it’s just sore. It takes time,” Woods said. “My body has been through a lot. It’s just one of those things where 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 to a level where I can play at the highest level again.”

Despite not competing since July 2024, Woods has stayed active as a PGA Tour policy board player director and vice chairman of PGA Tour Enterprises.

The 50-year-old golfer is also weighing additional responsibilities after the PGA of America sought his input on the 2027 Ryder Cup captaincy. Woods hinted that the organization wants to know if he is interested in leading the team.

“Yeah, they have asked me for my input on it, and I haven’t made my decision yet,” Woods 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, Team USA, and our players justice with my time.”

Woods previously turned down the U.S. captaincy for the 2025 Ryder Cup due to time constraints and PGA Tour responsibilities but noted at the time that it did not mean he would never lead the team in the future.

-Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Toby Davis/Reuters