Tiger Woods has handed golf fans their clearest comeback hint in months. In a SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio interview that aired on November 10, 2026, the 15-time major champion said he is “feeling better” and has “been training quite a bit” — and confirmed he will be in the Bahamas for his own Hero World Challenge in December. What he would not say is whether he actually plans to tee it up.
What Happened
Woods, who hosts the Hero World Challenge, has not played an official PGA Tour event since the 2024 Open Championship, where he missed the cut. Speaking to SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, he offered a rare personal update: “I’m feeling better, no doubt about that,” he said, before adding, “I’ve been training quite a bit.”
Asked directly about the Hero World Challenge — the limited-field event he hosts at Albany in the Bahamas from December 3-6 — Woods kept it short. “I will be at Hero,” he said, then laughed and added, “I’m there either way, so I’ll see you there.” He pointedly stopped short of saying he would compete.
That distinction matters. When the tournament’s 20-man, no-cut field was announced on October 19, Woods was not among the 17 players named. Three tournament-exemption spots remain open, and as host he could hand one to himself — as he has done before — but so far there is no indication that he will.
Why It Matters
The update lands after a brutal stretch for Woods physically. He ruptured his left Achilles tendon in March 2025 and underwent his seventh back procedure — reported as a disc replacement — in October 2025. His only competitive action in 2026 came in March, when he played a TGL match for his Jupiter Links Golf Club team, his first appearance of any kind in more than a year.
Off the course, 2026 brought further turbulence. After a single-vehicle crash and arrest in late March, Woods said he was “stepping away … to seek treatment and focus on my health.” In September he pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of reckless driving. Against that backdrop, any sign that he is training with intent carries real weight.
The Hero World Challenge has historically been Woods’s chosen re-entry point: a warm-weather event with a small field, generous scheduling and no 36-hole cut. The 2026 edition is loaded even without him. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, defending champion Hideki Matsuyama and seven of the world’s top 10 are in the field — part of a wider, star-heavy calendar shift we covered in our look at the PGA Tour’s overhaul.
What This Means For You
For fans, the takeaway is to stay tuned but temper expectations. Woods confirming his presence is not the same as confirming his return, and his history of cautious comebacks suggests he will tee it up only when his body is genuinely ready. The honest answer will reveal itself when those three exemption spots are filled in the coming weeks.
For everyday golfers, Woods’s long road back is a useful reminder about returning from injury. Rebuilding a swing after back and lower-limb surgery is far less about chasing raw speed and much more about sequencing and mobility. If you are coming back from your own layoff, rebuild your hip rotation and controlled turn first, and let distance follow.
There is a bigger-picture lesson, too. A growing body of research shows golf supports strength, balance and longevity deep into later life — provided you keep moving. At 50, Woods is effectively a test case for how far modern rehabilitation can stretch a career many assumed was finished.
Key Takeaways
- Woods told SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio on November 10 that he is “feeling better” and has “been training quite a bit.”
- He confirmed he will attend his Hero World Challenge (December 3-6, Albany, Bahamas) but would not say whether he will play.
- He was left out of the 17-man field announced October 19; three exemption spots remain open.
- His last official start was the 2024 Open; he has since dealt with an Achilles rupture and back surgery.
- Watch the exemption list over the next few weeks for the real answer.
Woods’s comments were made on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio and reported by outlets including Field Level Media/The Associated Press.
