Eight-time winner at Torrey Pines, Tiger Woods, announced yesterday he is back in action for next week’s Genesis Open. This announcement comes amidst personal turmoil and physical barriers that are putting the golf legend at the bottom of a mountain looking up.
Tiger Woods Torrey Pine Update
Tiger Says “Goodbye”
The announcement of his return is sadly the only good news coming out of Tiger’s camp this week. His “biggest fan”, and mother, Kultida Woods passed away earlier this week at the age of 80. “My Mom was a force of nature all her own, her spirit was simply undeniable,” said Tiger in a post on X about her passing.
As Tiger walks toward the first tee at the Genesis Open next week, a heavy weight will surely be on his shoulders—a burden far greater than the usual pressures of professional golf. It will be the first tournament where the person who inspired him to dawn his famous “Tiger Red” cannot watch him compete. This alone would be incredibly difficult to manage but being his first tour event back from back surgery in September means a win is increasingly unlikely.
Back in the OR
In September, Tiger had yet another surgery on his lower back. The sixth one he has had on his back in the last ten years. The surgery was intended to relieve some of the spasms he had experienced last year.
Tiger played only five tournaments during the 2024 season, including one event outside the majors. Even in that tournament, illness forced him to withdraw. Tiger hopes that the latest surgery will not only help him participate in more PGA Tour events but also make life easier off the course. It’s been some time since he’s been within striking distance of golf’s top money earners.
Tiger’s Chances
Even if you ignore the imaginable grief for the recent loss of his mother or the countless surgeries, recent history tells us Tiger doesn’t have much of a chance next weekend. In the entirety of 2024, Tiger made one singular cut. He hasn’t exactly been on the grind either working on his game. The TGL has taken up much of his time while he’s been recovering. It can’t be easy trying to get back to your best golf when you’re trying to start an entire sports league from the ground up.
In fact, the only recent real action Tiger’s had is in the TGL playing in two matches in January.The So-Fi Center is a beautiful state-of-the-art facility. But real golfers know nothing can replicate being out there competing against the best on an actual course. That is something Tiger has not done since the PNC Championship where he played with his son Charlie.
Torrey Pines Greatness
With everything seemingly poised against him leading into the Genesis Open, if there’s anyone who knows how to win at Torrey Pines it’s Tiger Woods. He holds the record for most PGA Tour wins on the South Course with eight.
Tiger always had an undeniable connection with Torrey Pines.—the place where he had made some of the most memorable moments in his career. It was here, in 2008, that Tiger secured one of his most iconic major championships—the U.S. Open. Despite being hobbled by a torn ACL and a double stress fracture, Tiger battled through pain and fatigue, ultimately winning in a playoff against Rocco Mediate.
An Injured Tiger Woods has proven to be enough to win here. But one who has been decimated by the loss of his mother and a sheer lack of recent competition is yet to be seen. If there was ever a course that could heal his wounds—emotional and physical—it’s right here.
