Tiger Woods ‘disappointed’ as he makes PGA Tour career announcement after injury woes

Tiger Woods was set to return to the PGA Tour in December to compete at the Hero World Challenge, but the 15-time major champion has confirmed he will not be in the field

Tiger Woods has announced he will not return to the PGA Tour to compete at the Hero World Challenge next month, as his battle with injury continues.

Woods is the tournament host of the limited-field event in the Bahamas and was expected to tee it up at Albany Golf Course alongside some of the world’s best players. On Monday however, the 15-time major champion confirmed he will play no part, and will only take on off-course duties.

“I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete this year at the Hero World Challenge,” he tweeted. “But always look forward to being tournament host and spending the week with @HeroMotoCorp.”

As part of his announcement Woods confirmed three more names had committed to compete, having been made exempted by tournament organisers. Woods’ close friend, Justin Thomas is in the field, as is Jason Day and Hero World Challenge debutant, Nick Dunlap.

It is yet another knockback for Woods, who is continuing to play part-time golf on the PGA Tour due to a whole host of fitness problems. The 48-year-old has competed in all four major championships this season, as well as the Genesis Invitational in February where he was forced to withdraw in the second round due to illness.

On the major stage, Woods has played 72 holes just once – coming at the Masters – having missed the cut at the PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and most recently The Open Championship. The latter saw a struggling Woods battle against the elements on the Scottish coast, failing to make it to the weekend at Royal Troon.

Tiger Woods last played The Open ( Image: Getty Images)
Speaking after his missed cut in July, Woods claimed he had intentions of competing in the Bahamas in December, as well as the parent-child PNC Championship the week later. “I’m not going to play until then,” Woods said in Scotland when asked if he could play before the Hero.

“I’m going to just keep getting physically better and keep working on it. Hopefully just come back for our — what is it, our fifth major, the Father-Son, so looking forward to it.” Having withdrawn from playing in the Bahamas, it remains to be seen whether Woods will partner son, Charlie, at the PNC.

If he is to miss the parent-child event, Woods’ next showing will come indoors with the 82-time PGA Tour winner set to represent Jupiter Links Golf Club in the launch of TGL in January. In September, the five-time Masters champion revealed that he had undergone surgery on his back.

“The surgery went smoothly and I’m hopeful this will help alleviate the back spasms and pain I was experiencing throughout most of the 2024 season,” he wrote on social media at the time. “I look forward to tackling this rehab and preparing myself to get back to normal life activities, including golf.”