LOS ANGELES — Tiger Woods isn't ready to start playing competitive golf again just yet after the latest injury setbacks of his career.
But a return to the PGA Tour may actually be only a few months away.
Woods, who is recovering from both a new back injury and an Achilles injury he suffered while training at home, was asked directly on Tuesday ahead of the Genesis Invitational if he was ruling out a return at the Masters in April.
"No," he replied plainly.
cc:@TheMasters👀pic.twitter.com/4QN6P11KCU
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR)February 17, 2026
Woods announced last March that he hadruptured his left Achilles' tendonwhile training at home, which knocked him out for the majority of the PGA Tour season. Then in October, Woods announced that he hadundergone a lumbar disc replacement surgery in his lower back, which marked at least the seventh back procedure of his career.
Woods had already started cutting his playing schedule significantly in recent years, especially after the car crash that nearly resulted in him losing his right leg in 2021. He has said repeatedly that his goal is to play in the four major championships and a select few other events each season.
Woods, though, missed the cut in three of the four majors in 2024. He made the cut at the Masters that season, but he finished 60th. Woods has actually only finished three of his last 13 Tour events dating back to 2020.
The Achilles injury is no longer an issue for him, Woods said on Tuesday from Riviera Country Club. He's able to hit full shots again, too. The issue, he said, is simply his back.
"I can't dunk a basketball anymore, so don't have to worry about that," Woods said with a laugh. "As far as the disc replacement, it's just sore. It takes time ... My body has been through a lot. It's just one of those things where it's each and every day, I keep trying, I keep progressing, I keep working on it, trying to get stronger, trying to get more endurance in this body and trying to get it at a level at which I can play at the highest level again."
[Check out all of Yahoo Sports' golf content here in our golf hub]
Woods is not in the field this week for the signature event on Tour, the final one on the west coast swing, though he is the event's host. He also said he didn't have a direct target to start playing again.
"I'm trying, put it that way," Woods said about how close he is to a return.
Woods has won 82 times on Tour in his career, which has him tied with Sam Snead's all-time record. He's won 15 major championships, too, which trails only Jack Nicklaus' record of 18. His last major win was at Augusta National in 2019.
Despite his one-word comment on Tuesday, Woods playing at Augusta National in a few months is still very much up in the air. He hasn't played on Tour since the British Open in July 2024. And simply saying it's not off the table is far from a commitment to being in the field at the premier golf event on the calendar each year.
Also, based on his recent playing history, no one knows how well he'd actually do at Augusta.
But as a five-time winner, Woods has an invitation to play in the Masters whenever he wants it. If he's physically able, knowing Woods, he's going to make the trip.
Now, the golf world waits.
