Tiger Woods Set for Golf Comeback Just One Week After His Mother’s Passing

Tiger Woods has confirmed his participation in the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, marking his return to one of his favourite courses for his first PGA Tour appearance since the British Open last July.

This tournament will see Woods back on the course for a full 18 holes of competitive golf, a significant milestone since undergoing a microdiscectomy in September to relieve pain radiating down his legs. This was his sixth surgical procedure on his lower back.

He will be competing just over a week after the passing of his mother, Kultida Woods, who sadly passed away last week at the age of 80.

As the host of the Genesis Invitational, Woods’ event has been relocated from Riviera Country Club due to the wildfires that severely impacted the surrounding community of Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles.

While he has never claimed victory at Riviera, Woods boasts an impressive record of eight wins at Torrey Pines, including the 2008 US Open. This picturesque public course along the Pacific coastline is also where he last achieved a top-10 finish on the PGA Tour, tying for ninth at the Farmers Insurance Open in 2020.

The Genesis Invitational features a limited field with no cut, making it a unique event. Woods has not played four rounds in a tournament since last year’s Masters, where he set a tournament record with 24 consecutive cuts made.

At that event, he finished last among those who made the cut, having carded scores of 82 and 77 over the weekend, and he also missed the cut in the other three majors last year.

With a remarkable 15 major titles under his belt, the 49-year-old Woods is tied with Sam Snead for the most PGA Tour victories at 82. His most recent win came at the Zozo Championship in 2019.

Woods was sidelined for all of 2021 following a severe car crash in February of that year in Los Angeles, which resulted in major injuries to his lower right leg.

While he opted out of the unofficial Hero World Challenge he hosts in December, Woods participated in an exhibition with his son, Charlie, and has been involved in the indoor TGL league.