It would not feel at all right if Tiger Woods’ major championship career concluded with the 50-year-old physically struggling to just get through two rounds before going on to miss the cut.
Unfortunately, it appears that the chances of Tiger Woods ever adding to his tally of 15 major titles look to have been dashed. He has not played in a professional tournament individually since The Open Championship in 2024.
A return to TGL on Tuesday night would have raised hopes of Woods playing at The Masters next month.
However, Woods has undergone a number of surgeries since The Open at Royal Troon. So if he does play at Augusta National in a few weeks, there will be concerns about what sort of toll that will take on his body.
Sadly, it seems that a fairytale ending to Woods’ career is now unlikely. But perhaps there is still an opportunity for the American to set up a very fitting farewell to the very highest level.
The 2027 season may be the perfect time for Tiger Woods to say goodbye to the majors
Firstly, Woods needs to consider sitting out the rest of this year. Removing the pressure of trying to get ready for competition may help his body heal as much as it possibly can now.
He should then consider announcing ahead of the 2027 major season that it will be his last.
Next year’s lineup of venues is undoubtedly the best since 2010. Of course, Augusta will host The Masters, while the US Open and The Open will return to Pebble Beach and St Andrews respectively.
They have all been the scene of some of Woods’ greatest triumphs. He won at all three courses on his way to completing the Tiger Slam in 2001.
Between 1998 and 2005, Jack Nicklaus played in just two Open Championships. They were both played at The Old Course, with the Golden Bear making his final major appearance at the venue in 2005.
It was clear what St Andrews meant to Woods back in 2022 when it seemed that he may be crossing the Swilcan Bridge for the final time in competition.
That is arguably the perfect stage for Woods’ last major appearance.
The gamble Tiger Woods would be taking if he sits out the 2026 season
There is an element of risk to Woods sitting out 2026’s majors and making it clear that he will not continue beyond next year.
Woods looked set to play at last year’s Masters before an Achilles injury caused him to undergo surgery just weeks before.
There are no guarantees that resting up will benefit Woods. Life seems to rarely work out so well, particularly with the amount of punishment Woods’ body has dealt with over the years.
But if Woods is not going to win another major, then the best time for him to say goodbye to the four biggest events of the year is surely the season when Pebble Beach and St Andrews join Augusta National on the calendar.
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