Golfer Tiger Woods. GREG LOVETT/PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tiger Woods announces plans for 2025 debut

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated Feb 7, 2025 2:30 PM ET

Tiger Woods has not played on the PGA Tour since the Open Championship in July, but we finally know when he plans to return to the course.

On Friday afternoon, Woods committed to make his 2025 PGA Tour debut next week at the Genesis Invitational, a tournament he hosts every year. Fans expected the 15-time major winner to make his debut at the Genesis Invitational, considering it's the only non-major championship he played in 2023 and 2024, but recent developments raised some doubts about his ability to compete.

For one, the Genesis Invitational was moved from Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles to Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego due to the California wildfires. Riviera is one of Woods' favorite PGA Tour venues, but he's also won eight tournaments, including a U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

Tiger Woods will tee it up in next week's @TheGenesisInv.

Woods has eight career victories at Torrey Pines. pic.twitter.com/r8K8Og4p6N
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 7, 2025

Additionally, Woods's mother, Kultida, 80, died this week. Kultida was Tiger's biggest fan and the reason he wears red on Sundays, so the news raised questions about Woods' ability to compete so soon after.

Woods answered those questions with his announcement on Friday.

As for expectations, it's hard to expect much from Woods in his 2025 debut. The golf legend missed the cut in the last three majors of 2024 and underwent another back procedure in September. Woods did return to the course in December for the PNC Championship alongside his son, Charlie, where they lost in a playoff to Bernhard Langer and his son, Jason.

Since then, Woods has been focused primarily on TGL, his indoor golf league featuring some of the best players on the PGA Tour. His Jupiter Golf Links lost its opening match against Los Angeles Country Club but rebounded with a win against Rory McIlroy's Boston Common last week.

Woods has looked good in his two TGL matches, but he doesn't have to walk multiple miles up and down huge slopes. His back becomes an issue when he has to walk a championship golf course four days in a row. With the Masters two months away, just making the cut would be a win for Woods.

Jack Dougherty

Jack Dougherty has been writing professionally since 2015, contributing to publications such as GoPSUSports. com, Centre Daily Times, Associated Press, and Sportscasting. com

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