Tiger Woods, a 15-time major champion, has not ruled out making a stunning return to competitive golf at the 2026 Masters Tournament in April. This, despite ongoing recovery from major back surgery and a lengthy absence from the PGA Tour.
Speaking Tuesday at Riviera Country Club, the 50-year-old Woods addressed speculation about his comeback when asked directly by a reporter if playing in this year’s Masters—starting April 9—was off the table.
“No,” he replied.
Woods has not competed in a PGA Tour event since the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon and missed last year’s Masters due to injuries. In fact, he was forced to skip the Masters Champions Dinner because he couldn’t even walk up the stairs.
As long as Tiger Woods has a pulse, The Masters will be on the table
— ClamFan (@Clam_Fan) February 17, 2026
He could pull out the day/week before, but you just have to know – he wants that one BADLY!pic.twitter.com/08gDB0c9kR
Tiger Woods Masters 2026 Comeback: Woods’ One-Word ‘No’ Fuels Miracle Return Hopes at Augusta
Tiger has not competed in a PGA Tour event since 2024. Aside from the Achilles injury, he underwent lumbar disc replacement surgery in October 2025.
“It has been challenging,” said Woods. “My body has been through a lot. Each and every day, I keep trying, I keep progressing, trying to get it to a level that I can play at the highest level.”
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The back injury seems to be the greater of Woods’ concerns.
“It’s just sore. It takes time,” he said. “[Will Zalatoris] went through it, and it took him a while to come back. I’m a little bit older than [him]. It’s probably going to take me a little bit longer.”
Woods offered no specific timetable for his return, emphasizing that walking 72 holes remains difficult after years of back surgeries. Still, he left the door open for his beloved Augusta National, where he has won five green jackets—including his iconic 2019 comeback victory—and holds a lifetime exemption as a past champion.
How about some nostalgia, folks? Who could ever forget his 2005 appearance, when he gave us a legendary chip shot on the 16th hole during the final round?
Tiger Woods’ chip in at the 2005 Masters is one of the few times I was watching a sport live and actually thought it was a movie pic.twitter.com/8cNpMsEFl3
— NBA Slime (@TerryFranconia) April 7, 2022
The chip came during a battle between Woods and Chris DiMarco, who had led throughout much of the tournament. DiMarco placed his tee shot in the center of the green on the Par 3 16th, known as Redbud. Woods, however, pulled his shot off the green. It wasn’t looking good.
With 50 feet or so between him and the hole and a difficult lie, commentator Lanny Wadkins told the audience that “this is one of the toughest pitches on the entire place here.”
In fact, he predicted Woods might not land his shot within DiMarco’s, which was still 20 feet away from the hole. Woods, though, did what Woods does.
As Tiger’s shot tracked ever so slowly toward the hole, commentator Verne Lundquist offered up this iconic piece of commentary: “Well… here it comes… Oh, my goodness… OH, WOW! In your life have you seen anything like that!?”
Woods went on to defeat DiMarco in a playoff, winning his fourth green jacket and ninth major title.
As a five-time Masters winner, Woods can compete there indefinitely, regardless of his current world ranking or PGA Tour status. He has made the cut at Augusta for a record 24 consecutive appearances since his last appearance in 2024.
Will he be able to make amiracle comeback in 2026? Stay tuned.