With Tiger Woods rarely playing on the PGA Tour these days, those who’ve been grouped with the 15-time major champ are part of an exclusive club.
There are even some golfers inside the world’s top ten who have never played alongside Woods. Speaking after the midweek TGL action, Wyndham Clark revealed that he’d never played a round with Tiger.
One of the events the 49-year-old did play in 2024 was The Masters at Augusta National, and amateur Neal Shipley played alongside Woods during the final round, a once-in-a-lifetime moment for the Ohio State star.
For those hoping to play alongside Woods, the most likely route is to be fortunate enough to have the same tee time at one of the majors.
Denny McCarthy, however, hit the jackpot whilst at Medalist Golf Club in Florida.
Denny McCarthy’s round with Tiger Woods at Medalist Golf Club
McCarthy made a casual trip to Medalist—a course popular among PGA Tour stars—to get in some practice.
The American, however, was up for a game. On his way out, he bumped into Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler. Speaking to the Subpar Podcast, he discussed the events that followed.
“I showed up there one day, just kind of tired, didn’t have a game lined up. I was just there to practice for a little bit, and I was like, this is boring. I need to play a game or something to be out here, and I was about to leave. Then JT and Rickie showed up and said they were going to play shortly and that they hadn’t played in a couple of weeks. I was like, ‘Alright, if you guys are going to play, I’ll come play with you if that’s cool’. And they were like, ‘Yeah, sure, that’s cool’. I didn’t realise that they were playing with Tiger,” McCarthy said.
“They obviously knew they were playing with Tiger, so they were kind of hesitant to let me play. I was like, ‘Man, I thought you know I was closer friends with them’. We started hitting balls on the range, the only three on the range, and Tiger showed up and put his bag next to my spot, and I was like, ‘holy s***, that’s Tiger’. Basically, they were planning on playing with Tiger, and I just invited myself into this group slash game.”
When could Tiger Woods return to the PGA Tour?
Woods is yet to feature on the PGA Tour in 2025 after undergoing yet another back surgery immediately after the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon.
The former world number one has been competing in the TGL and posting some impressive ball-speed numbers in the tech-infused simulator league.
Woods’ TGL performances have seen golf fans speculate about a potential PGA Tour return. Woods committed and then withdrew from the Genesis Invitational after the sad passing of his mother, Kutilda.
Looking ahead, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship feel like the most likely tournaments where Woods could return. Beyond that, The Masters could be the first time the golfing world sees Woods in 2025.
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