Tiger Woods, the 47-year-old golf legend, is set to make his competitive return to golf after a seven-month hiatus at the Hero World Challenge in Albany, The Bahamas later this month. Woods underwent ankle surgery in May after experiencing “constant” pain during his three rounds at Augusta National. This was only his second competitive appearance of 2023. Despite his prioritization of major championship appearances since suffering severe leg injuries in a car crash two years ago, Woods will compete as tournament host and a member of a 20-player invitational field at the unofficial PGA Tour event.
The Hero World Challenge, which started in 2000 and benefits Woods’ TGR Foundation, will feature many of the game’s top players such as world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland, Max Homa, and Matt Fitzpatrick. American trio Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, and Justin Thomas are also set to play. Justin Rose and Lucas Glover will be making their appearances as tournament exemptions. Although he has not been completely absent from the course, Woods has appeared at various points to support his son Charlie at junior tournaments. In January, he is scheduled to play in The TGL, a televised indoor golf league staged in partnership with the PGA Tour and created by TMRW Sports, a company he co-founded alongside Rory McIlroy.