Tiger Woods Withdraws From 2026 Players Championship Due To Injury
Tiger Woods Withdraws From 2026 Players Championship Due To Injury...
Golf legend Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the 2026 Players Championship just hours before his opening round at TPC Sawgrass, citing a recurring back injury. The sudden announcement, made early Wednesday morning, has sent shockwaves through the sports world and dominated US sports headlines.
The 50-year-old Woods was set to make his first appearance at the PGA Tour's flagship event since 2023. Tournament officials confirmed his withdrawal at 7:15 AM ET, with Woods' team releasing a statement about "unexpected stiffness" during his warm-up session.
This marks Woods' third tournament withdrawal in the past 12 months, raising fresh concerns about the 15-time major champion's ability to continue competing at golf's highest level. The Players Championship field will now proceed with 143 competitors instead of 144.
Social media erupted with reactions from fans and fellow players. Justin Thomas, Woods' frequent practice partner, told reporters: "My heart breaks for Tiger. We all know how much this tournament means to him." The hashtag #GetWellTiger began trending on Twitter within an hour of the announcement.
TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida had seen record ticket sales for Wednesday's opening round, with many fans specifically purchasing grounds passes to watch Woods' return. Tournament organizers are offering partial refunds to disappointed attendees.
The withdrawal comes at a pivotal moment for Woods, who had been gradually increasing his tournament schedule after multiple surgeries. His last competitive round was a final-round 68 at February's Genesis Invitational, where he finished tied for 45th.
Sports medicine specialists note that Woods' latest setback involves the same lumbar region that required fusion surgery in 2017. Dr. Ara Suppiah, a frequent golf analyst, told ESPN: "At his age and with his injury history, these flare-ups become increasingly difficult to manage."
Betting markets immediately adjusted following the news, with Scottie Scheffler now the clear favorite at +450 odds. Woods had been listed at +6600 before his withdrawal. The tournament will proceed as scheduled, with the first groups teeing off at 7:40 AM ET.
This development is particularly significant because the Players Championship represents one of Woods' most successful non-major events, with two victories (2001, 2013) among his record-tying 82 PGA Tour wins. His absence removes a major draw for both fans and television networks covering the event.
NBC Sports, which holds broadcast rights for the tournament, had heavily promoted Woods' return in its pre-event coverage. Network executives confirmed they would adjust their Thursday programming to address the storyline. Woods' scheduled 12:35 PM ET tee time will now feature another player from the alternate list.
The golf world now turns its attention to whether Woods will recover in time for next month's Masters Tournament, where he's a five-time champion. Augusta National officials declined to comment on his status when reached Wednesday morning.
