Tiger Woods has hinted at skipping the Players Championship next week, confessing that his “heart is really not into practising right now”.
The 49-year-old golf icon endured a difficult evening on Monday in Tomorrow’s Golf League (TGL), when his Jupiter Links Golf Club suffered a 9-1 defeat to Atlanta Drive. Despite helping to create the league alongside Rory McIlroy, both of their teams were knocked out after the first regular season.
Tiger Woods has spoken about how his golf game has been impacted by off-course challenges (Image: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
Woods, still reeling from losing his mother, Kultida, last month, withdrew from the Genesis Invitational and has found it challenging to focus on the sport. “This is the third time I’ve touched a club since my mom passed, so I haven’t really gotten into it,” Woods shared with Sports Illustrated.
“My heart is really not into practising right now. I’ve had so many other things to do with the Tour and trying to do other things. Once I start probably feeling a little bit better and start getting into it, I’ll start looking at the schedule.”
In addition to dealing with personal grief, Woods has been actively involved in shaping the future of golf as part of the PGA Tour’s policy board and even participated in discussions with President Donald Trump aimed at resolving tensions with LIV Golf.
Woods’ sparse practice sessions mean he might sit out the upcoming Players Championship in Vedra Beach, Florida, set for March 13-16. His battles with back and leg ailments have prompted McIlroy’s ex-agent, Andrew Chandler, to suggest that Woods consider bowing out of competition for a few years.
Tiger Woods’ team struggled during the first TGL season ( Image: Megan Briggs/TGL/TGL via Getty Images)
“I think Tiger would be better stepping away completely for two to three years and then start playing again, if he wanted to,” Chandler said to Vision4sport. “On the seniors. Play about eight seniors tournaments a year. The ones he likes. There’s a theory that the British Seniors Open is going to be on at St Andrews when Tiger’s 50.
“I don’t know if Tiger will even be playing in the majors in 2025 but [does] it even make a difference anymore? Do I want to see him down the field? No, I don’t. So if he plays in the majors, I hope he’s at least semi-competitive. Not like how he is at the moment.”
After addressing the injuries that have hindered Woods, Chandler concluded: “It’s all very sad, knowing his record and knowing he’s not competitive. That comeback win in 2019, that was his moment. That was it. All Tiger is doing now is damaging his legacy.”
Rory McIlroy and Woods both saw their teams knocked out of TGL ( Image: Megan Briggs/TGL/TGL via Getty Images)
As some still yearn for a return to form from Woods, who has struggled since his car accident in February 2021, British golfer Colin Montgomerie has added to those calling for the 15-time major winner to retire. “I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was, the passion and the charismatic aura around him,” he told The Times shortly after the 2024 US Open.
“There is none of that now. At Pinehurst he did not seem to enjoy a single shot and you think, ‘what the hell is he doing?’ He’s coming to Troon and he won’t enjoy it there either.”
He then reflected on Woods missing the cut at The Open in 2022, adding: “That was the time. Stand on that bridge, start waving, and everyone goes, ‘so, is that it?’ ‘Yeah, it is.’
“It would have been a glorious way to go. The stands were full, the world’s TV cameras – from all continents – were on him, he’s walking up there on his own, tears were in his eyes obviously… you can’t beat that walk.”
Although a two-time winner of the Players Championship, Woods has not competed at the tournament since 2019.
