Tiger Woods shares a rehab update, withdraws from the PNC Championship, and opens up about his future in golf.
Six weeks after undergoing back surgery, Tiger Woods has returned to the public eye—not as a player, but as the host of the Hero World Challenge. In his first press conference in months, Woods acknowledged the slow pace of his recovery. “It’s not as fast as I would like,” he admitted. Since the mid-October procedure, he’s been limited to chipping and putting. “I just started lifting a little in the gym and working on rotation,” he said. After two surgeries in one year—on his back and Achilles tendon—he’s focused on gradually rebuilding his body. “It just takes time and discipline.”
Tiger Woods withdraws from PNC Championship
For many fans, watching Tiger Woods team up with his son Charlie at the PNC Championship had become a holiday tradition. But not this year. “I’m not ready. And it wouldn’t be fair to Charlie or to another team that could take that spot,” Woods explained. Since 2020, he had played the family event annually, even reaching a playoff last year against Team Langer. “I haven’t played golf in so long. I just want to play again—not in a tournament, just play.”
Future plans: TGL, Champions Tour, and Ryder Cup
Woods turns 50 in December, an age when many players consider joining the Champions Tour. Asked whether that’s on his radar, he responded, “I haven’t really looked at the calendar yet. I need to see how my body reacts when I start training more, rotating, hitting shots.” He will also miss the launch of TGL, the new tech-infused golf league he co-owns. “I’ll be at every Jupiter Links match, but I can’t play yet.” The league kicks off in January and runs through March.
While his playing schedule remains empty, Woods is staying busy behind the scenes. As part of a strategic committee, he’s helping shape the future of the PGA Tour, including major calendar reforms starting in 2027. “We’re trying to develop the best possible format with all partners involved,” he said. As for the possibility of captaining the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 2027? “No one’s asked me,” Woods said with a grin.