Tiger Woods Eyes Masters Return After TGL Appearance & Back Surgery

March 25, 2026 Alex Carter - Sports Editor Sport

Tiger Woods said he remains committed to attempting a return to competitive golf at the Masters Tournament next month, despite a loss Tuesday night in his first action in over a year as his team, Jupiter Links, fell to Los Angeles Golf Club 9-2 in the final round of the TGL season.

The 50-year-old Woods, recovering from back surgery performed last October, had been sidelined since a TGL match in February 2025. He replaced Kevin Kisner in Tuesday’s match after Los Angeles won the opening game of the best-of-three series.

“I’ve been trying. This body doesn’t recover like it did when I was 24, 25,” Woods said after the match, according to multiple reports. “It doesn’t mean I’m not trying; I’ve been trying for a even as. I’ve had a couple of bad injuries last year that I’ve had to fight through and has taken some time. I keep trying – I want to play.”

Jupiter Links initially took a 2-0 lead in the match, but momentum shifted after Woods missed a three-foot putt on the seventh hole. Los Angeles responded with three consecutive eagles, ultimately securing the victory on the 10th hole. “We got our ass kicked at the end,” Woods said.

The TGL, a tech-focused indoor golf league co-founded by Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley, utilizes simulators and real surfaces. While acknowledging the different physical demands of the TGL compared to traditional PGA Tour events, Woods indicated his participation was a step toward potentially competing at Augusta National.

Woods has won the Masters Tournament five times, with his most recent victory coming in 2019. He will be present at Augusta National regardless of his playing status, due to his involvement with “The Loop,” a new nine-hole course he designed at the Augusta municipal course, and the Champions Dinner.

“I’ve loved the Masters tournament, I’ve loved being there since I was 19 years old, so it’s meant a lot to me and my family over the years and I’m going to be there either way,” Woods stated.

Woods’ physical condition appeared sound during the TGL match, with reports indicating he reached ball speeds of 176 mph on a drive during the sixth hole. Still, he cautioned that his recovery process remains ongoing. He did not specify a timeline for a final decision regarding the Masters, stating he would continue practicing and evaluating his progress.