Tiger Woods is not in the field for The Players Championship next week at TPC Sawgrass, despite being given a free pass to enter the tournament.
The decision comes just over a month after Woods’ mother Kultida died, and the golf legend spoke out this week about how much he is struggling to come to terms with her loss.
Until Friday he was yet to make a final decision on his participation in the Players next week, but Woods’ name was not on the 144-player list when it was released.
The decision is, perhaps, not surprising after Woods’ recent comments at TGL, in which he revealed that it was only the third time he had played since his mother died suddenly on February 4.
Two of those times were at TGL. The other was with President Donald Trump on February 9. He also played in the Seminole Pro-Member on Monday.
‘This is the third time I’ve touched a club since my mom passed, so I haven’t really gotten into it,’ Woods said Tuesday. ‘My heart is not into practicing right now.
Earlier this week, Tiger Woods picked up a club for just the third time since his mom died
Woods has been struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of his mother Kultida
‘I have so many other things to do with the tour. Once I start probably feeling a little bit better and start getting into it, I´ll start looking at the schedule.’
Woods, a two-time winner at The Players, has not played the PGA Tour’s flagship event since 2019. He tied for 30th, and a month later won the Masters for his fifth green jacket and his 15th major championship.
He earned a five-year exemption for The Players with that Masters win, getting an extra year to account for the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The Players was canceled after one round in 2020, though Woods did not enter because he was feeling stiffness in his back.
Golf legend Woods will not play in the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass next week
Woods played alongside President Donald Trump in the weeks after his mother’s death
There are no special exemptions for The Players. His only way back would be through his performance this year, or if he were to ever play the PGA Tour Champions after turning 50 and winning the Kaulig Companies Championship – formerly Senior Players – at Firestone.
If he chooses to play the Masters, it would be his first tournament since he missed the cut at The Open last July. Woods is on the list of players, and there is no commitment deadline for him to decide to play at Augusta National.
Woods has never missed the cut at the Masters as a pro, setting a tournament record last year with his 24th cut made. He had 19 appearances at The Players and only failed to make the cut one time in 2011, when he withdrew after a 42 on the front nine with a left leg injury.