Straight from the horse’s mouth, Tiger Woods has announced he’ll play once a month in 2024 after finishing up playing in the 2023 Hero World Challenge and to play the PNC Championship in December.
“I think I’ve come a really long way… Month to month seems reasonable, it gives me a couple weeks to recover and a week to tune up… That was the plan was going into next year and I don’t see why that wouldn’t change.”
Tiger Woods is still not officially scheduled to play in any PGA Championship events as he continues his recovery from a subtalar fusion procedure that he underwent shortly after the 2023 Masters. But with this announcement, everyone’s wondering where he will pop up in 2024.
What tournament has Tiger Woods recently played?
Tiger Woods made his way back onto the green at the 2023 Hero World Challenge, a part of the TGR Ventures tournament that he hosts. Running from the 30th November to the 3rd December, this was the first time that Woods had played professionally since his injury in April at the Masters.
The tournament was won by none other than world no. 1 Scottie Scheffler, finishing with a total of 20- under 268. And how did Tiger Woods perform? Whilst he shows signs of recovery he wasn’t anywhere close to the top of the pack, shooting even par in the final round of the Hero World Challenge.
Will Tiger Woods and son Charlie be playing at the PNC Championship?
More good news for fans, however, as the Hero World Challenge won’t be the only one that Woods is set to play in the coming weeks. It’s confirmed that Tiger Woods will return to golf this year not only in the Hero World Challenge, but also by playing alongside his son at the PNC Championship December 14th-17th.
Golfing great Padraig Harrington will also be playing in the tournament this year with his youngest son as the pairs play over 36 holes instead of the usual 72. Tiger will make his way to the Carlton Golf Club in Orlando to compete in the PNC Championship, his second tournament in just 3 weeks and a strong sign that he has no plans to hang up his clubs just yet
What Happened to Tiger Woods?
On February 23, 2021, Woods was involved in a car crash in Los Angeles where he suffered significant damage to his lower right leg.
How Many Events Has Tiger Woods Played in the 2022/2023 Season?
Woods has only competed in two events during the 2022/2023 season. The first was at the Genesis Invitational in mid-February where Woods finished in a tie for 45th place.
The only other tournament that Woods played in after that was the 2023 Masters in early April where the five-time Green Jacker winner withdrew during his third round.
Why Did Woods Withdraw from the 2023 Masters?
Woods withdrew from the Masters after reaggravating his plantar fasciitis during his opening three rounds. In simpler terms, the 15-time major champion was suffering from acute tissue inflammation in his right heel which caused him severe discomfort when he tried to walk.
It was plainly obvious to see that Woods was physically struggling during his third round; a situation that was exacerbated by the conditions being some of the worst in recent times at the Masters. In the end, Woods could no longer continue and walked off the course after completing his seventh hole of the round.
Of course, had it been another course then Woods may have been able to carry on but Augusta National Golf Club is renowned for its undulating fairways and raised greens which put additional stress on Woods’s ankle.
The truth is that this withdrawal would have come as a relief for those watching on as the sight of Woods, who was in last place on the leaderboard and hobbling around in the torrential rain, was a far cry from the man who used to achieve superhuman feats.
Despite the overwhelming pain Woods was in during the Masters and his subsequent withdrawal, it should be noted that Woods still managed to make the cut after 36 holes. It was a significant achievement as this meant Woods made his 23rd consecutive cut at the Masters which tied the all-time record that he now shares with Fred Couples.
When Will Woods Return to the PGA Tour?
Whilst Woods has stated he plans to play golf once a month, it’s still not confirmed whether he will be playing in any PGA tour events.
Previously, the 47-year-old even admitted that he plans to put all his energy into playing the year’s four majors which may come at the expense of the regular season events.
Essentially, Woods is acknowledging that his body is, in all likelihood, no longer up to the physical demands of a full season on tour which is why he plans to be selective about when he plays. This news will undoubtedly come as a blow to millions of Woods’ fans but a restricted schedule may mean that the Grand Slam winner is able to target more major wins.
Could Woods Still Surpass Jack Nicklaus’ Major Record?
The odds of Woods still managing to surpass Jack Nicklaus’ major tally of 18 will be incredibly high. The inescapable truth is that it’s not only time but also health that is now against Woods. As things stand, Woods needs to win another four majors to become the leading men’s major winner of all time.
Few would have predicted that Woods wouldn’t end his career as the player to have won the most majors after he won his 14th title back in 2008. At that stage, it looked like a mere formality but the Big Cat would only add one more major to his overall tally in the 15 years that followed.
Still, where’s there’s hope, there’s life, and if one player can defy the odds then it is the great Tiger Woods.
What are Woods’ Odds of Winning the 2024 Masters?
As of October 2023, Woods’ odds of winning the 2024 Masters sit at 100/1*. This price naturally makes Woods a distinct outsider but at the same time, there won’t be anyone in the 2024 Masters field who has more experience of what it takes to win at Augusta National with Woods having won five Green Jackets in his career.
If you plan on betting on the 2024 US Masters or the 2024 Open Championship then please take a moment to read through BetVictor’s safe and responsible gambling page which has useful tips on how to stay in control when betting on golf.
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*All odds are correct at time of writing and are subject to change.
