Tiger Woods has announced he will not play at this week’s Genesis Invitational, the tournament he hosts.
Woods’ mother Kultida passed away last week, with the former world No 1 expressing his “heartfelt sadness” when announcing the news on social media.
On Monday, Woods, who had been set to make his first PGA Tour appearance of the year at Torrey Pines, said in a statement on X: “I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready.
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“I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.
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“Thanks to everyone who has reached out. I hope to be at Torrey later in the week and appreciate the continued kindness since my mom’s passing.”
Woods’ last official tournament appearance came in The Open at Royal Troon last July, when he missed the cut for the third consecutive major.
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Since undergoing another surgery, this time on his lower back, in September, the 49-year-old has played alongside his son, Charlie, at the PNC Championship just before Christmas and made two appearances in the new TGL tournament, the indoor golf league that he co-founded.
Woods’ place at Torrey Pines has been taken by American countryman Jake Knapp, who won for the first time on the PGA Tour at last year’s Mexico Open.
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Tiger’s withdrawal ‘completely understandable’
Rich Beem, the 2002 PGA champion, speaking on the latest edition of the Sky Sports Golf Podcast:
“I don’t think anybody in the planet could fault him.
“The sudden passing of anybody that’s close to you like that, much less your mum, I was actually a little surprised that he was going to play because of that fact.
“I would imagine that he wanted to play in her honour. But I can also understand that there’s just too many things going on. Emotionally, way more than anything else.
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“Believe it or not, folks, Tiger is human. He truly is made of flesh and blood. And so I think it’s what Tiger felt was best.
“He’s not going to go out there unless he’s got the mindset that he thinks that he can win the tournament. And I just don’t think that with everything going on he could tee it up and feel like he’s going to have a chance to win, especially with mum’s passing.
“So it’s unfortunate, it’s sad, especially at his event, but it’s completely understandable.
“I mean, she’s the one that kind of basically turned him on to wearing red on Sundays, you know, it made him stronger.
“And the way that he would always talk about her, you could always see his face light up when she was part of the conversation. So she was obviously a massive influence to him in so many different ways, way different than his dad was.
“But she certainly was a glue that kind of held everything together. But boy, I mean, we all know mom’s mom and you’re only going to have one mother, and sadly Tiger’s passed away.”
Woods’ playing return has to wait
The Genesis Invitational, which has been moved from its usual course at the Riviera Country Club to San Diego due to the Los Angeles wildfires, is the year’s third Signature Event on the PGA Tour – tournaments which feature limited fields and increased prize money.
Woods’ most recent non-major appearance had come at 2024’s Genesis Invitational, when he withdrew mid-way through his second round due to the effects of the flu.
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He has made only 11 competitive starts since his career-threatening car crash in February 2021, with the 82-time PGA Tour victor failing to make the weekend at three of last year’s four majors.
This week’s Torrey Pines field includes 46 of the top 50-ranked players, including world No 1 Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and defending champion Hideki Matsuyama. Live coverage of all four days is on Sky Sports Golf.
Watch The Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines on Sky Sports Golf this week. Early coverage is live from 5.30pm on Thursday ahead of full coverage at 8pm. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.
