Tiger Woods Set for First TGL Start in 2026 Amid Masters Comeback Speculation

Tiger Woods has not played any sort of competitive golf in over a year since his last TGL appearance in 2025.

Tiger Woods Set for First TGL Start in 2026 Amid Masters Comeback Speculation

Tiger Woods (Image via PGA Tour)

Tiger Woods is back. On Monday, it was announced that the golfer would make his first TGL start in over a year on Tuesday in the finals against the Los Angeles Golf Club (LAGC).

The 15-time major champion has been out of competitive golf since July 2024. After missing the cut at the Open Championship at Royal Troon, he has played in the PNC Championship and some TGL games.

However, the 50-year-old has not swung a golf club in any sort of event since last year. Following their disappointing end to the inaugural season of the TGL, he ruptured his Achilles tendon before the Masters Tournament and missed the major championship.

In October, he would have his 7th back surgery. This surgery would see him replace his disc. Since then, he has been working his way back into shape for competitive action.

During the second season of the TGL, Woods took on the role of cheerleader and supported his team from the sidelines. In his absence, Akshay Bhatia would play as the alternate member.

The 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational winner, however, is unable to compete in the finals because he is competing in India at an upcoming DP World Tour event. With him out and the team losing in the first match, Woods has inserted himself into the lineup for the showdown on Tuesday and will play for the first time in front of an audience in over a year.

The LAGC took the first game by a 6-5 score line. They won 2 points on the final hole to snatch the victory and leave their opponents on the brink. A loss on Tuesday would see the Los Angeles team win the second edition of the TGL.

This development comes at a time when there have been several speculations regarding his comeback at the Masters Tournament. Earlier at the Genesis Invitational, the former World No.1 expressed that a return to the Augusta National Golf Club was not off the table for him yet.

Masters App recently added fuel to speculations of Tiger Woods’ comeback at Augusta National

As April draws near, there have been several questions regarding the participation of Tiger Woods in the Masters Tournament. In the midst of these speculations, the Masters App added fuel to this talk with a major update.

Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods (Image via X/@TWlegion)

Every year, the Masters App gets updated before the major event. Last Thursday, the app got updated for the 2026 edition.

In this, it listed Woods as a participant. Last year, the 5-time Masters winner was listed in the “past champions not participating” section.

Tiger Woods is making his 27th start in the Masters in 2026.

The Masters App said regarding Tiger Woods

Whether Woods will actually play in the event is still unconfirmed. While speaking with the reporters last week regarding his health, he expressed that he was having mixed days.

I said I’ve been working on it. Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad days. Disk replacement is not a lot of fun.

Tiger Woods said regarding his health

Woods has an excellent record at the Masters. Apart from his 5 wins (the 2nd most), he has missed the cut just once in this event (in 1996 as an amateur).

In 2024, he set a new record for the most consecutive cuts made at this event at 24, surpassing the previous records of 23 by Gary Player and Fred Couples.

He also holds the record for the biggest winning margin in this tournament’s history. In 1997, he dominated the playing field and claimed his first green jacket by finishing 18-over par, 12 strokes ahead of runner-up Tom Kite, who finished 3-under par.

In 2019, he ended an 11-year major championship drought as he came back from behind to claim his 5th win. Out of his 15 major wins, this was the first time he had won a major while not being the leader/co-leader after 54 holes.

As of now, only time will tell whether he will actually return to the Masters Tournament this year. He does have a lifetime exemption in this event due to his status as a past champion.

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