Golf legend Tiger Woods says Masters return this year not 'off the table' after back injury - 'Trying to get stronger'
Published 18/02/2026 at 11:29 GMT
It has been a long time since Tiger Woods competed at the highest level, but the 15-time major championship winner could yet make a comeback for the Masters in April. Now 50, Woods has not played at an official PGA Tour event in almost two years, but the American said he is "progressing" after surgery to replace a disc in his back, following a ruptured Achilles last year.
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Tiger Woods says playing at the Masters this year is not "off the table" as he continues his recovery from injury.
The 50-year-old had surgery to replace a disc in his back in October, and it is still unclear when he will return to action. Woods has not competed in an official tour event since July 2024, when he missed the cut at The Open.
He missed the entirety of the 2025 season with a ruptured Achilles, before his latest back injury.
"It's just one of those things where it's each and every day, I keep trying, I keep progressing," Woods told reporters at the Riviera Country Club near Los Angeles.
"I keep working on it, trying to get stronger, trying to get more endurance in this body and trying to get it at a level at which I can play at the highest level again."
Asked if he is now hitting shots, Woods said: "Not well every day, but I can hit them.
"As far as the disc replacement, it's just sore. It takes time. My body has been through a lot."
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It has been an injury-hit few years for the five-time Masters champion, who suffered severe leg injuries in a car crash in 2021 and had a back operation in 2024.
But he has not ruled out competing at Augusta in April, having last been victorious there in 2019.
"I've had a fused back and now a disc replacement, so it's challenging," Woods added.
"Now I've entered a new decade, so that number [being 50] is starting to sink in and has us thinking about the opportunity to be able to play in a cart [on the Champions Tour]."
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Woods was also quizzed about potentially taking the Ryder Cup captaincy for the US in 2027.
"They have asked me for my input on it, and I haven't made my decision yet," he 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, our Team USA and our players and everyone that's going to be involved in the Ryder Cup, if I can do it justice with my time.
"Serving on two boards and what I'm doing for the PGA Tour, I'm trying to figure out if I can actually do this and serve the people that are involved and serve them at an honourable level."
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