Tiger Woods won’t play in Players Championship, unknown if he’ll play earlier than Masters

Tiger Woods mentioned that his objective is to play in all 4 majors and some different tournaments, however “the fifth main” will not be one in every of them.

Woods didn’t join The Players’ Championship earlier than Friday’s deadline, so he won’t be within the subject.

The 47-year-old performed at The Genesis Invitational on the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles final month, and after simply barely making the lower, he completed tied for forty fifth.

Tiger Woods performs his shot from the twelfth tee throughout the first spherical of The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles on Feb. 16, 2023. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

“Like I informed you guys final 12 months, I’m not going to play any greater than in all probability the majors and possibly a pair extra,” Woods mentioned after the Genesis. “That’s it, that is all my physique will permit me to do. My again the way in which it’s, all of the surgical procedures I had on my again, my leg the way in which it’s, I simply cannot. That’s simply going to be my future.

“So my intent final 12 months was to play in all 4 majors, I acquired three of the 4. Hopefully this 12 months I can get all 4 and possibly sprinkle in just a few right here and there. But that is it for the remainder of my profession. I do know that and I perceive that. That’s simply my actuality.” 

But if Woods is in a match, he is there to win, regardless of very a lot being on the back-nine of his profession.

Tiger Woods eyes a shot throughout the second spherical of the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2022. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Woods clearly has his eyes on subsequent month’s Masters, however it’s now unknown if he’ll play earlier than then.

The 15-time main champion reminded everybody earlier than the Genesis that he is not able to be merely only a golf ambassador, although his schedule is severely restricted. 

“I’ve not come round to the concept of being [a ceremonial golfer]. If I’m enjoying, I’m enjoying to win,” Woods informed the media earlier than he performed at Riviera. “I do know that gamers have performed, and they’re ambassadors of the sport and attempt to develop the sport. I can’t wrap my thoughts round that as a competitor. If I’m enjoying within the occasion, I’m going to try to beat you. I’m there to get a ‘W.’

“Making a lower’s an important factor. If I enter the occasion, it’s at all times to get a ‘W.’ There will come a cut-off date the place my physique won’t permit me to try this anymore, and that’s in all probability sooner quite than later. But wrapping my head round that transition and being an envoy position and simply enjoying and simply making an attempt to be out right here with the blokes? No, that’s simply not in my DNA.”

Tiger Woods performs a second shot on the thirteenth gap throughout the second spherical of The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles on Feb. 17, 2023. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)

Woods is at present within the second-longest match drought of his profession — he beforehand had not received from 2013 to 2018, however received the TOUR Championship to get again on prime, then received the 2019 Masters seven months later.

Woods is a two-time winner of The Players Championship (2001, 2013), and defending champion Cameron Smith is ineligible because of leaping ship to LIV Golf.