Tiger Woods reveals he won't compete in star-studded Hero World Challenge PGA event

Tiger Woods announced Monday he won’t compete in the Hero World Challenge at The Albany Golf Course in The Bahamas Dec. 5-8.

Woods, 48, is recovering from microdecompression surgery of the lumbar spine for nerve impingement in his lower back on Sept. 13. Justin Thomas, Jason Day and Nick Dunlap are the three sponsors exemptions, Woods said.

“I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete this year at the Hero World Challenge, but always look forward to being tournament host and spending the week with @HeroMotoCorp. Excited to welcome our exemptions @JustinThomas34, @JDayGolf and @NickDunlap62 into the field,” Woods wrote on X.

Woods had said after his last round at Royal Troon in July that he didn’t plan on playing any competitive golf again during the calendar year until the Hero World Challenge. Woods hosts the event which benefits his foundation.

Tiger Woods out for Hero World Challenge, 2025 status TBD

Woods underwent surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida, believed to be his sixth back procedure in the last decade, per Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated. He has continued to deal with complications from his near fatal car crash in 2021, in which he suffered open fractures to both his tibia and fibula bones.

The 15-time major champion competed in just five events this past season for a total of 11 rounds. He withdrew from the second round of the Genesis Invitational in February after suffering from flu-like symptoms. Woods made the cut and finished 60th at the Masters, and then missed the cut in the PGA Championship, U.S. Open and Open Championship.

There will be no shortage of star power in the Hero World Challenge despite Woods being out for the event. Among those in the field: World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Ludvig Åberg, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, Sahith Theegala, Keegan Bradley, Russell Henley, Robert MacIntyre, Sam Burns and Brian Harman.