Tiger Woods’ 2025 PGA Tour Season in Doubt Amidst Grief and Lack of Practice
The anticipation surrounding Tiger Woods’ potential return to the PGA Tour in 2025 is facing considerable uncertainty, with his participation in the upcoming Masters Tournament looking increasingly unlikely. Just a month remains before the prestigious event at Augusta National, but Woods’ recent comments and limited playing time paint a picture of a golfer still grappling with personal grief and a lack of readiness to compete at the highest level.
Woods recently participated in the inaugural season of the TGL, a virtual golf league he co-founded with Rory McIlroy and other investors. However, his involvement in the TGL has not translated into a clear indication of his readiness for the PGA Tour. In fact, after the final match of the season, where his Jupiter Links GC team failed to qualify for the playoffs, Woods revealed the extent to which his mother’s recent passing has impacted his golf game.
"This is the third time I’ve touched a club since my mom passed, so I haven’t really gotten into it," Woods admitted. "My heart is not into practicing right now. I have so many other things to do with the Tour. Once I start probably feeling a little bit better and start getting into it, I’ll start looking at the schedule."
These candid remarks suggest that Woods’ focus remains elsewhere, and his motivation to dedicate the necessary time and effort to prepare for the PGA Tour is currently diminished.
The PGA Tour calendar is rapidly approaching its most exciting stretch, with the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The PLAYERS Championship on the horizon. Woods will not be participating in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. His absence from Bay Hill is notable, especially considering his remarkable record at the tournament. Woods boasts an impressive eight victories in 18 career appearances at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, including a dominant stretch from 2000 to 2003 where he secured four consecutive titles.
The PLAYERS Championship, held at TPC Sawgrass near PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, is another significant event in March. However, given Woods’ limited practice and the emotional toll of his mother’s death, his participation in The PLAYERS Championship appears unlikely.
Beyond these two events, there are three additional tournaments leading up to The Masters: the Valspar Championship, the Texas Children’s Houston Open, and the Valero Texas Open. Woods has a limited history with these tournaments, having only played in the Valspar Championship once (in 2018) and the Texas Open once (in 1998). Notably, he has never competed in the PGA Tour’s annual event in Houston.
Last year, Woods expressed his intention to play in one tournament per month. He initially planned to make his 2025 PGA Tour debut at The Genesis Invitational, a tournament he hosts, but he ultimately withdrew, citing his lack of readiness in the wake of his mother’s passing. During an interview at the Genesis Invitational, Woods reiterated his goal of participating in some "bigger events" in the future.
In 2024, Woods’ appearances on the PGA Tour were limited to just five events. He withdrew after the first round of the Genesis Invitational due to illness and only made the cut at the Masters, where he finished in 60th place.
As it stands, the Masters Tournament next month appears to be the most probable opportunity to witness Woods in action. However, he has not yet committed to playing in the first major of the year.
Back in December, Woods acknowledged that he was not physically ready and "not sharp enough" to compete against the top golfers on the PGA Tour. This assessment followed a microdecompression surgery on his lumbar spine, performed to alleviate nerve impingement in his lower back and reduce the pain and spasms he was experiencing.
"I don’t want to have any setbacks. Just want to keep making progress and give myself the best chance going to next year as possible," Woods said in December. "I feel like I’m getting stronger, I’m getting more pliable, but I got a long way to go to be able to compete against these guys."
Since December, Woods has played in the PNC Championship alongside his son, Charlie Woods. He also participated in four matches with Jupiter Links GC in the TGL. While these appearances indicate some level of activity, they do not necessarily reflect his readiness for the demanding competition of the PGA Tour.
The combination of personal grief, limited practice, and ongoing physical challenges has created a significant hurdle for Woods as he contemplates his return to the PGA Tour in 2025. While his competitive spirit and determination are undeniable, the circumstances suggest that his comeback may be delayed, and his participation in the Masters Tournament remains uncertain. Golf fans around the world will continue to monitor his progress and eagerly await his eventual return to competitive play.
