Tiger Woods sets sights on sixth green jacket after deciding to skip The Players

Hall of Famer Tiger Woods has decided not to participate in the forthcoming Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on the PGA Tour.

Ben Smith

03 Mar 2023

Tiger Woods sets sights on sixth green jacket after deciding to skip The Players — Tiger Woods sets sights on sixth green jacket after deciding to skip The…

Tiger Woods has decided not to compete in the forthcoming Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

Woods, 47, missed the 5pm deadline on 3 March to register. The Players Championship is the flagship event on the PGA Tour.

This year it will be the richest in its history with a total $25m prize purse. It will be played over 7-12 March.

Woods has won the Players twice, in 2001 and 2013.

He made a surprise return to action in February when he competed in the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.

That week was overshadowed by his ill-advised private prank he pulled on Justin Thomas.

Woods was snapped handing Thomas a tampon after outdriving him on the ninth hole in the opening round.

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The 15-time major champion apologised and eventually finished T-45 in the elevated event.

Woods twice shot in the 60s that week and appeared in better physical condition than his appearance at the 150th Open seven months prior.

He told the media after the conclusion at Riviera

"Like I told you guys last year, I'm not going to play any more than probably the majors and maybe a couple more.

"That's it, that's all my body will allow me to do. My back the way it is, all the surgeries I had on my back, my leg the way it is, I just can't. That's just going to be my future.

"So my intent last year was to play in all four majors, I got three of the four. Hopefully this year I can get all four and maybe sprinkle in a few here and there. But that's it for the rest of my career. I know that and I understand that. That's just my reality."

The news means that the next time we will likely see Woods play again will be at the 87th Masters in April.

The 2023 Players will also be without its defending champion, Cameron Smith, after he joined the LIV Golf League last year.

Next page: Tiger to miss out on millions