Wed Dec 31 18:30:00 UTC 2025: Tiger Woods Updates Recovery, Hints at Future Playing Schedule

NASSAU, Bahamas – Golf legend Tiger Woods, who turned 50 this week, provided an update on his ongoing recovery from his most recent back surgery during a press conference at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on December 2nd. Woods, a 15-time major champion, underwent a disk replacement in his lower back on October 10th to address pain and mobility issues.

While eligible to compete on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, Woods has yet to commit to playing on the senior tour. He stated he is still in the early stages of recovery, having only recently started putting and chipping. “Once I get a feel for practicing, exploding, playing, the recovery process, then I can assess where I’m going to play and how much I’ll play,” Woods said. “I’m a ways away from that part of it and that type of decision, that type of commitment level.”

The past year has been challenging for Woods, marked by injuries and personal loss. He withdrew from the Genesis Invitational following the death of his mother, Kultida, and later ruptured his left Achilles tendon. This season marks the first time that he hasn’t competed in a single tournament on the PGA Tour. His last PGA Tour event was the Open Championship in July 2024, where he missed the cut.

Woods has faced numerous injuries in recent years, including severe leg injuries sustained in a 2021 car accident. Despite these setbacks, Woods remains determined to return to competitive golf. “I’d like to come back to just playing golf again,” Woods said. “I haven’t played golf in a long time. It’s been a tough year.”

Fellow golfers have been offering encouragement and playful ribbing about Woods reaching his 50th birthday. Gary Woodland expressed the sentiment of many: “Tiger’s impact, obviously, in the game of golf is amazing… Hopefully, he’s healing to a point where he’s going to get back out because we all miss him. It’s all better when he’s out.”

While Woods joked about playing in 25 events across both tours, he emphasized that he needs to get back to playing before determining a specific schedule. The PGA Tour Champions schedule begins in January, with the Senior PGA Championship in April. Many are hoping Woods will consider competing, though the logistics would need to be planned in advance to accommodate the increased fan interest.

Whether Woods chooses to compete on the PGA Tour Champions or the PGA Tour remains to be seen, but his focus remains on returning to the game he loves.

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