Jupiter, Florida — Tiger Woods offered an unsettling update on his health on Tuesday, casting serious doubt on his potential participation in next month’s Masters tournament. This comes after his first competitive outing in more than a year, where he faced a significant defeat at the TGL Finals.
The 50-year-old golf icon returned to the competitive scene with the Jupiter Links GC squad, only to suffer a disappointing 9-2 loss to the Los Angeles Golf Club. Despite showing moments of brilliance, such as a 318-yard drive and a remarkable 279-yard 3-wood that nearly reached the pin, Woods’ post-match comments highlighted the persistent challenges facing his body. "We got our **** kicked at the end," he remarked, referencing the team’s struggle to respond as the LA team surged ahead.
Woods has faced a series of debilitating health issues in recent years. He underwent his seventh back surgery last October, which involved L4-L5 disc replacement. Before that, he had surgery for a ruptured left Achilles tendon in March 2025. Since July 2024, when he missed the cut at The Open Championship, Woods has been absent from the PGA Tour for over 600 days.
In Tuesday’s match, Woods stepped in for fellow golfer Kevin Kisner, joining teammates Max Homa and Tom Kim. The team started strong, quickly taking a 2-0 lead, largely thanks to Woods’ skillful play on the second hole. However, the momentum shifted drastically. After missing a crucial three-foot putt at the par-3 seventh hole, Woods visibly expressed his frustration, and Los Angeles seized control, scoring three consecutive eagles to clinch the match before Woods had a chance to compete in his singles match against Tommy Fleetwood.
Justin Rose delivered the final blow to Jupiter Links’ hopes with an eagle on the par-five 10th hole. The Los Angeles Golf Club, bolstered by talented players including Fleetwood and Sahith Theegala, completed the championship with one match still remaining in the best-of-three final.
Despite the heavy loss, Woods showcased that he still possesses the power to deliver impressive shots, leaving fans momentarily hopeful. However, the unusual format of the TGL finals, where players hit only selected shots, left him searching for the rhythm necessary in competitive play.
Woods has primarily taken a non-playing role with Jupiter Links throughout the current TGL season as he continues to recover from surgery. His last competitive appearance was in March 2025, also in the league he co-founded with Rory McIlroy. Over the past five years, he has managed only a handful of tournaments, a stark contrast to his earlier career since the car crash that altered his life in February 2021.
The Masters is set to commence on April 9 at Augusta National, giving Woods just two weeks to assess his condition in regard to a tournament that demands the utmost physical stamina. He has confirmed his attendance for the Champions Dinner, hosted by McIlroy, who won the green jacket in a dramatic playoff over Rose in 2025—a year when Woods was sidelined, recovering from his Achilles injury. Additionally, Woods is expected to participate in activities surrounding The Loop at The Patch, a nine-hole course his design firm created, which opens to the public on April 15.
Woods’ recent history at the Masters reveals a sobering trajectory. Last year, he recorded a career-worst major round of 82 and finished last among 60 competitors, a stark campaign contrasted by his remarkable comeback in 2022 when he completed all four rounds, earning standing ovations from the crowd.
As a past champion, Woods is not under pressure to announce his participation immediately, but he remains noncommittal when discussing his timeline. "I’ve been trying; this body doesn’t recover like it did when I was 24," he said, expressing his desire to compete.
With five Masters victories to his name, Woods is one win shy of Jack Nicklaus’s record of six, but at 50 years old and with a body bearing the weight of multiple surgeries, he faces a critical juncture that may define the final chapters of his storied career. Following a disappointing final in Florida, Woods is left to ponder whether he can muster one more miracle at Augusta.