Tiger Woods will not be playing at The Masters this year for the first time since 2021 after the 15-time major champion sustained an Achilles injury in the weeks leading up to Augusta National.
Unfortunately, injuries have become an increasingly significant part of Tiger Woods‘ career over the last 15 years. He was unable to play in a single major in the 2016, 2017 and 2021 seasons for various reasons.
While Woods was clearly in a lot of pain in 2024, he still managed to tee it up at the four majors – managing to make the cut at The Masters. And with the 49-year-old looking more comfortable in TGL, it was inevitable that fans would hope that he would be able to show more signs of his old self on the biggest stages in 2025.
Unfortunately, he sustained an Achilles injury which could potentially rule Woods out for the rest of the year. And with that, it is hard not to wonder whether he may decide that enough is enough when it comes to playing in 72-hole tournaments.
Butch Harmon asked if Tiger Woods could play in The Masters again
Certainly, no-one could blame him if he came to that conclusion. Woods’ body has dealt with so much punishment over the years. And walking around a course as demanding as Augusta National probably does him few favours.
Nevertheless, speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Butch Harmon admitted that he simply cannot count him out when asked if he can see Woods teeing it up at the first major of the year again in the future.
“I learned a long time ago that you can never say never against Tiger Woods. We never thought he would win again. And then in 2019 he goes ahead and wins again,” he said.
“The problem is he can’t walk. It is hard for him to walk. We saw it the last two years when he made the cut and he was struggling walking. Will he play the Champions Tour? Who knows. You can ride a cart on the Champions Tour.
“Knowing Tiger he will want to be here next year. And even though he will be 50 years old he will want to play, I guarantee that he will. I am not counting him out.”
The dilemma Tiger Woods faces after such a disappointing 2024 season
The problem Woods has is that he is simply too legendary a figure to bow out of the majors with three missed cuts on the spin and a week at The Masters where he finished last of those who made the weekend.
If that goodbye is at all bothering him, then you would imagine that he will be desperate to feature more in 2026. However, what he wants and what his body wants appear to be two very different things now.
When he does play in a tournament, it appears to be some time before he is ready to go again. And with that, it is hard to gain the reps he needs to be anywhere near competitive.
Perhaps playing on the Champions Tour will help with that. The level is still high, but the physical demands are obviously reduced. That may allow him to build up his fitness levels to the point where he does get that major championship swan song he truly deserves.
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