The question in recent years has become when Tiger Woods will play again.
Well, the question is again surfacing after his latest back surgery. He had microdecompression surgery on his lower back Sept. 13 to relieve nerve impingement and back pain and hasn’t played competitively since the Open Championship at Royal Troon in July, where he missed the cut.
The initial field list had three open spots on it for this week’s Hero World Challenge, Woods’ event in the Bahamas. However, last week, Big Cat confirmed he wouldn’t be in the field.
In past years, the Hero has been a test site for Woods following surgeries to determine where his body is at and get some competitive reps. Not the case this year.
That begs the question: when will Tiger tee it up again? He said in 2024 he wanted to play once a month, and he ended up making five starts: the Genesis Invitational and four majors.
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Here’s a prediction of when we’ll see Woods play in the near future.
Tiger Woods reacts after his son, Charlie Woods, chips in for a birdie on the ninth green during the final round of the PNC Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club on December 17, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
As noted, he’s not teeing it up in the Bahamas this week, but the PNC Championship is much different than walking 72 holes of golf. It’s a 36-hole hit-and-giggle where Tiger could rely on son Charlie if he doesn’t want to exert his back too much and hit every shot. And he gets to ride in a cart. Team Woods has played every year since 2020.
Tiger Woods tees off during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South on January 26, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
This is a stretch, for sure. Tiger hasn’t played in a non-major, sans the Genesis Invitational and Hero World Challenge, since 2020. But Torrey Pines is a place Tiger loves, and if he wants to try to play once a month still, why not go back to a place he’s familiar with and has dominated at?
Tiger Woods on the 10th hole during the first round of The Genesis Invitational golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
Another one of Tiger’s tournaments, Riviera has also been an event Woods has made an effort to play in, even around his surgeries and recoveries. Last year, Woods withdrew in the second round because of an illness. But if he can play, he’ll be at Riviera.
Tiger Woods tees off on the first tee during the third round of the 2019 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. (Photo: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)
Another stretch. You’d have to go back to 2019 to find the last time Tiger played at TPC Sawgrass, but 2025 could be the year he makes his return to the place he has won twice, especially if he has a goal to play competitively once a month.
Tiger Woods stands with his caddie, Lance Bennett, on the No. 4 tee box during the final round of the 2024 Masters Tournament. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Network)
Tiger is a five-time winner at Augusta National and has tied the record for consecutive cuts made at the Masters (24). In 2025 he could take the record all for himself. Of any tournament he wants to be prepared for, this is the one, so expect Tiger to be as ready and in as competitive shape as possible so that he can head down Magnolia Lane.
Tiger Woods attempts a putt on the 14th green during the second round of the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club on May 4, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
The PGA Championship returns to Quail Hollow, where Tiger won the Wachovia Championship in 2007. He’s also a four-time PGA Championship winner, and the warmer Charlotte weather in May should be good for his body.
Tiger Woods during the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvannia.
Woods finished T-2 in his one U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. He has called Oakmont one of the most difficult courses in the world.
Tiger Woods reacts on the 18th green during the second round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Portrush Golf Club – Dunluce Course. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
Woods has played one time at Royal Portrush in 2019, missing the cut. The Open’s weather conditions are the roughest on his body, but if Woods is able to play all of the above events, his competitive shape will be more on par than what he has dealt with in past years, so there’s a chance his body could hold up better.
