Tiger Woods shares a rehab update, skips the PNC Championship, and opens up about his future in professional golf.
Six weeks after undergoing back surgery, Tiger Woods made a public appearance—not as a player, but as host of the Hero World Challenge. In his first press conference in months, Woods admitted that his recovery is progressing slowly. “It’s not as fast as I would like,” he said. Since the mid-October procedure, he’s been cleared to chip and putt, but nothing more. “I’ve just started lifting a bit in the gym and working on rotation,” Woods added. After two surgeries in one year—on his back and Achilles tendon—he’s taking a cautious, step-by-step approach. “It just takes time and discipline.”
No Tiger Woods at PNC Championship: ‘Wouldn’t be fair’
For many fans, watching Tiger Woods team up with his son Charlie at the PNC Championship in Orlando 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 consistently, 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.”
Tiger Woods on TGL, Champions Tour, and Ryder Cup future
Woods turns 50 in December—a milestone that often signals a move to the Champions Tour. Is that on his radar? “I haven’t really looked at the calendar,” he said. “I need to see how my body responds when I start training more, rotating, hitting shots.” He’ll also miss the launch of the TGL. “I’ll be at every Jupiter Links match, but I can’t play yet.” As a co-owner, he remains involved, with the league kicking off in January and running through March.
Although his playing schedule remains empty, Woods is active behind the scenes. As a member of a strategic committee, he’s helping shape the future of the PGA Tour, focusing on structural reforms starting in 2027. “We’re trying to develop the best possible format with all partners,” he said. When asked about potentially captaining the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 2027, Woods responded with a grin: “No one’s asked me.”