"A miracle if he made the cut" - CBS golf analyst among Tiger Woods Masters doubters

CBS Golf analyst Johnson Wagner isn't convinced Tiger Woods is fit enough to walk 72 holes at the 2026 Masters. 

Woods, who turned 50 in December, made a return to the sport on 24 March with an appearance in the indoor golf league he co-founded with Rory McIlroy. 

The 15-time major champion only hit nine shots in a brief TGL appearance that saw his Jupiter Links GC thrashed 9-2 in the final against Los Angeles' Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Sahith Theegala. 

It was the first time Woods had swung a club in a "competitive" environment since missing the cut at the 2024 Open Championship. 

Over the past year, Woods ruptured his Achilles and underwent the seventh back surgery of his career. 

Still, he doesn't appear to be ruling out his 27th Masters appearance, hinting that he will spend the next fortnight working on his game at home in Florida before essentially making a gametime decision. 

Wagner told CBS that he "knows everybody wants" to see the five-time green jacket winner tee it up at Augusta National. 

But he added: "I don't think he’s physically fit enough to walk 72 holes around that golf course right now. 

"Yes, he can, but under tournament conditions and the pressure and what it takes to get his body right, I just don't see him playing.

"If he were to play, I think it would be a miracle if he made the cut. I think there's a better chance of him withdrawing than there is of him playing 72 holes."

Woods has made three appearances at Augusta since sustaining serious injuries in a car crash. 

In 2022, Woods made a surprise appearance at the Masters 14 months after crashing his luxury SUV in the hills of Los Angeles. 

Woods made the cut but looked in visible anguish over the weekend as he laboured to a 47th-place finish. 

Former Masters champion Jon Rahm, who played alongside Woods in the final round, revealed they were put on the clock. 

A year later, Woods made the weekend again - extending his streak of cuts made to 23 at the Masters - but hobbled off the course in the third round. 

In 2024, Woods made the cut again but finished dead last as Scottie Scheffler collected his second green jacket. 

Woods did not play last April after rupturing his Achilles whilst training at home. He was ruled out of all four major championships. 

"I want to play"

Woods told reporters on Tuesday that he is "trying to play" next month. 

He looked in good physical shape, launching a few drives more than 300 yards. 

But he acknowledged that his body doesn't recover the same as it did when he was in his mid 20s. 

It doesn't mean I'm not trying; I've been trying for a while. I've had a couple of bad injuries last year that I've had to fight through and has taken some time. I keep trying - I want to play.

"I've loved the Masters Tournament, I've loved being there since I was 19 years old, so it's meant a lot to me and my family over the years and I'm going to be there either way."

"It was fine physically," added Woods.

"We got our ass kicked at the end. Three eagles in a row, we didn't respond. I missed a short one to kind of get it started and give them momentum and we never got it back."