Woods is expected to skip the players, raising doubts about his return before The Masters

Tiger Woods’ comeback faces another setback as his highly anticipated PGA Tour return is on hold. The 15-time major champion is expected to miss next week’s Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, raising doubts about whether he will compete before The Masters in April.

Woods, 49, has not played an official event since missing the cut at The Open in July. His return was initially planned for The Genesis Invitational last month, but the sudden passing of his mother, Kultida, forced him to withdraw. Since then, he has admitted that his heart hasn’t been in practice, delaying his comeback indefinitely.

“This is the third time I’ve touched a club since my mom passed,” Woods revealed after competing in a TGL match with his Jupiter Links team earlier this week. “I haven’t really gotten into it, and my heart is not really into practising right now.”

Beyond personal challenges, Woods has also been preoccupied with his commitments on the PGA Tour’s policy board, further complicating his return timeline. His absence from The Players means he will likely go into The Masters without any competitive golf this season.

Woods has a rich history at TPC Sawgrass, winning The Players Championship in 2001 and 2013. However, injuries and scheduling conflicts have kept him from playing the event in recent years. His last appearance came in 2019 when he finished tied-30th, a month before his legendary Masters victory.

Fans hoping to see him before Augusta will have to wait, as Woods is also expected to skip the rest of the Florida Swing. His only recent appearances have been in unofficial events, including December’s PNC Championship with his son Charlie and this week’s Seminole Pro-Member.

The Players Championship field will be confirmed on Friday, but Woods’ name is unlikely to be on the list. If he does not return before April, he will face the challenge of heading into the first major of the year without any tournament experience in 2025.