Woods again painted an uncertain future about when and where he will play next due to a seventh back surgery to replace an intervertebral disc. He said Tuesday at the Genesis Invitational that he remains very busy, especially in trying to reshape the PGA Tour schedule.
“I thought I had practiced a lot of hours in my prime,” Woods said. “It doesn’t compare to what we did in the boardroom.”
Those hours also pose a hurdle in his decision on whether to captain the U.S. for the Ryder Cup for the 2027 matches in Ireland. Woods turned down the job two years ago because he didn’t think he had the time to properly execute the job.
In first place at this time of year is the Masters, which Woods last played in 2024, when he made the cut for the 24th consecutive time. Woods is a five-time Masters champion.
Asked whether playing the Masters, which starts April 9, was off the table, Woods replied without further explanation: “No.”
As for his golf anywhere — he turned 50 late last year and is eligible for the PGA Tour Champions — Woods said he is still working his way back from disc replacement surgery in October and has no timetable for a return. He also has yet to play in the indoor TGL matches.
“Well, I try to put it this way,” he said, adding that he can make full shots, but not every day “and not very well.”
Last year was the first time in his career that he did not participate in a single tournament. In March 2025, he underwent surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon, which no longer holds him back. He said his lower back was sore, and at his age, “It’ll probably take a little longer.”
“My body has been through a lot,” Woods said. “Every day I keep trying, I keep making progress, I keep working on it, trying to get stronger, trying to get more endurance in this body and trying to get it to a level where I can play at the highest level again.”
His main interest lies indoors. He sits on the boards of the PGA Tour and the commercial PGA Tour Enterprises and leads the Future Competition Committee that is trying to create a model to meet CEO Brian Rolapp’s goal of fewer tournaments that are more meaningful for the best players.
The only thing that is clear is that a new model will most likely not be ready until 2027. The committee has agreed on a big start to the season – which could be the week after or before the Super Bowl – bringing the big events to bigger markets and becoming the must-see sports of the summer.
Another players-only meeting was scheduled for Tuesday in Riviera. Rolapp is expected to pull the curtain on some aspects at The Players Championship in March, with a little more clarity expected in the summer.
Among the issues being considered is moving some key California stops — Riviera and Torrey Pines getting the most attention — to August as part of the PGA Tour’s postseason.
“We’re looking at things like that and looking to get into bigger markets for the playoffs later this year. We’re just trying to improve our competitive model, and how do we do that?” Woods said, adding that moving the Genesis Invitational to August is “certainly on the table.”
All the while, Woods said it was important to create a path for the next crop of stars.
“We’re trying to create opportunities for that turnover … to get more young people out here because ultimately they’re going to take over the game,” Woods said. “So trying to create that opportunity, trying to create the right competitive model and environment to foster that, that’s been the biggest challenge of all.”
As for the Ryder Cup, it too is in wait-and-see mode.
The PGA of America waited longer than ever before selecting Keegan Bradley for the ’25 matches at Bethpage Black as they waited for a response from Woods.
It doesn’t seem like he’s made much progress.
“They’ve asked me for my input on this, and I haven’t made my decision yet,” Woods said. “I’m trying to figure out what we’re trying to do with our tour. That’s kept me busy for hours every day and trying to figure out if I can actually do what our team does — Team USA and our players and everyone that’s going to be involved in the Ryder Cup — if I can do it right with my time.”
Woods became involved with Riviera in 2017 when his TGR Venture began organizing the event, and now he is the official host in the same capacity as Jack Nicklaus at the Memorial and the late Arnold Palmer at Bay Hill. These three signature events are the only ones with a 36-hole cut.
Genesis announced it would renew as title sponsor at Riviera, even though there were questions about whether it would move to late summer. Genesis is also title sponsor of the Scottish Open in July. There is also the question of how Riviera could be held in August 2028, a month after the Olympics.
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