Tiger Woods Eyes Masters Return After 7th Back Surgery

Tiger Woods isn't ready to close the door on Augusta National, even after missing every PGA Tour event last year for the first time in his storied career.

The five-time Masters champion left the possibility open this week when asked about competing at the legendary course in less than two months. Woods is recovering from his seventh back surgery, a procedure to replace a disk, plus surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon that no longer holds him back.

"Each and every day, I keep trying, I keep progressing, I keep working on it," Woods said at the Genesis Invitational on Tuesday. He can hit full shots now, though not every day and "not very well" yet.

The 50-year-old golf icon celebrated his birthday at the end of last year, making him newly eligible for the PGA Tour Champions. He holds the record for making the cut at the Masters 24 times in a row, achieving that milestone in 2024 before skipping the tournament last year.

Woods acknowledged his body has been through a lot and at his age, recovery takes longer. Still, his goal remains clear: getting strong enough to play at the highest level again.

Why This Inspires

While Woods heals, he's pouring energy into something bigger than his own comeback. He's leading the PGA Tour's "Future Competition Committee," working to create more meaningful tournaments and opportunities for the next generation of players.

"We're trying to create opportunities for that turnover, to get more youth out here because eventually they're going to take over the game," Woods explained. The committee is designing a new competitive model that could launch the season near the Super Bowl and turn golf into must-see summer sports.

Woods has spent countless hours in boardrooms shaping the tour's future, responsibilities he cited when declining the U.S. Ryder Cup captaincy role two years ago. He's reconsidering that decision for the 2027 event in Ireland, though his workload and recovery will factor into the choice.

Woods continues working toward strength and endurance every single day, proving that comebacks happen one small step at a time.