Is Tiger Woods playing in the Masters? What latest injury update says about 2026 status for Augusta

Is Tiger Woods playing in the Masters? What latest injury update says about 2026 status for Augusta originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It’s been a long road back to the golf course for Tiger Woods after a couple of major setbacks in 2025, but a return to competition could be near.

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One return is already in the cards, as Woods is set to play in the TGL finals on Tuesday, his first appearance of the season for Jupiter Links as he continues to work his way back to competitive golf.

While a return to TGL, an indoor golf league, is not quite the same as a full return to golf, it’s a major step in Woods’ quest to get back on the course and potentially even return at the Masters.

Here’s what you need to know about Woods’ status ahead of the 2026 Masters.

MORE:Where Tiger Woods’ 2019 Masters win ranks among SN’s top 140 moments

Is Tiger Woods playing in the Masters?

Woods recently said he still wasn’t sure he would be healthy enough to return for the Masters, which starts on April 9.

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“Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad days. Disk replacement is not a lot of fun … I’ve had a lot of procedures prior to that, so the body doesn’t quite heal like it did when I was 24. Doesn’t quite bounce back,” Woods told reporters earlier in March. “So I have good days when I can pretty much do anything, and other days where it’s hard to just move around.”

Asked in February whether he can hit full shots, Woods confirmed he can “Not well every day, but I can hit them.” A return to TGL will at least give Woods a chance to test out his shot.

Some fans started to believe Woods was gearing up to return at the Masters when they noticed the official Masters website says, “Tiger Woods is making his 27th Masters start in 2026,” under Woods’ profile in the “invitees” section, but there is no indication the golf legend has made a final decision. As a past champion, Woods is automatically invited to play in the Masters.

Is Tiger Woods playing in the TGL?

Woods is set to return to TGL competition for Jupiter Links, which is in the best-of-three TGL finals. Woods leads the team but has sat out all season as he recovers from Achilles and back surgeries.

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Jupiter Links has used Akshay Bhatia as an alternate in place of Woods during the season. The team lost Match 1 on Monday night and needs to win Match 2 on Tuesday to play Match 3 later the same night.

MORE:Where Tiger Woods’ 1997 Masters win ranks among SN’s top 140 moments

What happened to Tiger Woods?

Woods suffered a torn Achilles in March 2025 and did not participate in a competitive golf event during the year. He underwent lumbar disk surgery in his back in October 2025, which delayed a potential return.

The 50-year-old is now more than a year removed from Achilles surgery, but his comments have indicated that working his way back from lumbar disk surgery has been more of a challenge.

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Even after the two setbacks, which extend a long list of injuries and surgeries for the golf legend, Woods has remained committed to getting back on the golf course.

Tiger Woods Masters history

Woods is a five-time Masters champion, second to only Jack Nicklaus. Here’s his complete Masters history since his tournament debut as an amateur in 1995:

Woods has missed the cut only once in his Masters career, excluding a withdrawal in 2023, but he has participated in only seven of the last 12 tournaments.