"I want to play" - Tiger Woods shares 2026 Masters outlook after return to golf

Tiger Woods says he wants to play in the 2026 Masters but would not reveal whether he is any closer to making a decision after his return to golf ended with a heavy defeat in the TGL final

Woods, 50, returned to competition on Tuesday following a 20-month spell on the sidelines. 

His Jupiter Links team, made up of PGA Tour golfers Max Homa and Tom Kim, made a fast start and took a 2-0 lead but were dismantled in just 10 holes by Los Angeles' Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Sahith Theegala. 

The 15-time major champion said physically he felt fine after the 9-2 defeat but was frustrated the contest ended so soon.

Attention will now turn to the 2026 Masters, which begins in 15 days' time at Augusta National. 

"Well, as I said, I've been trying," Woods told reporters when asked if he was any closer to making a decision after the TGL final. 

"It's just, this body, it doesn't recover like it was when it was 24-25. It doesn't mean I'm not trying. I've been trying for a while. 

"I've had a couple bad injuries here the past year that I've had to fight through, and it's taken some time, but I keep trying."

Woods was referencing the fact he ruptured his left Achilles last March and underwent the seventh back surgery of his career seven months later. 

He added: "I want to play. I've loved the tournament. I've loved being there since when I was 19 years old, so it's meant a lot to me and my family over the years. 

"I'm going to be there either way with The Loop that's going up there, as well as the Champions Dinner."

The Loop at The Patch is a new nine-hole, par-three short course designed by Woods and his TGR Design team, located at the renovated Augusta Municipal Golf Course.

Asked if he would be making a gametime decision, Woods said: "I don't know. We'll see how it goes. I'll be practising, playing at home this week, and keep trying to make progress."

Woods played fewer than 10 shots in the match. 

His first shot of the TGL season was a 25-foot birdie putt to win the hole. It was on line but he left it short and Jupiter Links settled for par and a tied hole.

Woods' first full shot was an approach on the second with a three wood from 271 yards. 

He looked visibly pleased with the result after carrying it some 260 yards to clear some danger. 

"Welcome back T," Homa could be heard saying on the hot mics. 

Woods' tee shot on "Stinger" was a good one, flying 312 yards to the middle of the fairway. 

His worst shot of the night, however, was a missed three-foot par putt that gifted LA the hole.  

Woods said: "It was fine physically. It was just interesting, the shots, because usually you have more of a rhythm when you're actually playing a normal round of golf, you know, you're hitting shots. 

"Here, you know, it feels like I'm getting iced a bit at times. 

"It's just a different rhythm. It's like playing, when you play a rat-a-trap or presence catching, playing foursomes, you get some reasons, some matches, you just don't hit a putt for like 10, 11 holes. 

"All of a sudden, you've got to make a three-footer. That's kind of what it feels like here. 

"I had a couple drives I had to hit, and then a couple putts, and it was just, for me, it was different, because I haven't really done this. I've been watching these guys do it. 

"They make it look easy. I haven't done it in a while, so it was a lot of fun to be a part of it."