Tiger Woods is saying there is a chance. … a chance he could be in the field at the Masters in April, the first men’s major of the year that he has won five times, most recently in 2019.
Woods joined Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman in the CBS booth during Saturday’s third-round action of the Genesis Invitational, the PGA Tour signature event that he serves as host, at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.
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Woods, 50, made an extended appearance on air, spending nearly 20 minutes with Nantz and Immelman, who won the Masters in 2008. Woods hasn’t played in an official tournament since the 2024 British Open. He underwent disc replacement surgery in October, his seventh back procedure. He also had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles last March.
Genesis Invitational tournament host Tiger Woods speaks to the media during a press conference at Riviera Country Club.
“And of course, (Rory) McIlroy will defend, Scottie (Scheffler) will be there,” Nantz said to Woods about the Masters. “Anybody else you know who might be playing this year?”
“I know I’ll be there,” Woods said, while smiling. “We’re going to open up The Patch, and Trev and I are going to be part of a great dinner.”
Woods’s course design firm and Augusta National Golf Club have teamed up to renovate the local municipal golf course affectionately referred to as the The Patch or Cabbage Patch for its rough-around-the-edges conditions, and Woods also is on the list for the Champions Dinner, a Tuesday night tradition for past winners of the Green Jacket, which will be hosted by defending champion Rory McIlroy.
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“I didn’t ask specifically about you,” Nantz said with a laugh. “I just thought maybe you knew someone who might play.”
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On Tuesday, during a press conference ahead of the Genesis Invitational, Woods said he has resumed hitting full shots and while he doesn’t have a target date to return, he hasn’t ruled out playing in the Masters. Asked if the Masters is off the table, he said simply, “No,” and smiled.
He continued to remain coy in answering Nantz.
“Yeah, absolutely, I know a lot of people that are playing,” Woods quipped.
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Immelman cut to the chase.
“Is there a possibility that you can get out there?” Immelman asked Woods.
“There is,” Woods said.
It wouldn’t be the lead up to the Masters without Tiger teasing us about his plans for April. Stay tuned: it’s officially tracking season for Air Tiger.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Tiger Woods hints at ‘possibility’ of Masters return on CBS telecast
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