Tiger Woods Returns to Competition in TGL with Jupiter Links
The golf world is preparing for Tiger Woods’ return to competitive action. The iconic golfer will participate in Match 2 of the TGL finals, marking his season debut for the Jupiter Links team.
The news arrives at a crucial moment, after Jupiter Links suffered a narrow 6-5 defeat against Los Angeles in the first game of the final series, held on Monday in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Woods, who leads the Jupiter team, has been out of action for the entire season due to back surgery performed in October. In his absence, Akshay Bhatia has acted as a substitute, but this week he is competing in the Hero Indian Open in New Delhi.
In Monday’s match, Jupiter featured Tom Kim, Kevin Kisner, and Max Homa. Kisner, who has been working as a commentator for NBC during the Florida swing of the PGA Tour, played for the second time since February 2.
The Woods team, which managed to advance to the TGL playoffs, was on the verge of taking the lead in the final, but Sahith Theegala, after a complicated night, found the fairway on the 15th hole, allowing a birdie that gave the victory to Los Angeles.
Theegala struggled, including shots out of bounds and a drive into a bunker that prevented his team from reaching the green in two strokes on a par 5. He also missed a short putt that cost his team a point. However, he managed a decisive shot.
Jupiter was leading 5-4 going into the final hole, a par 5, where Los Ángeles applied the “hammer”, which meant the hole was worth two points. Theegala hit a drive that set up a second shot from 35 feet. Kisner, for his part, had problems with his shot and his birdie chip from 20 feet narrowly missed.
Jupiter had taken a 3-2 lead after the first nine holes. The Angels won the first two singles holes, but Kisner tied the match on the 12th hole.As has been the case throughout the TGL season, Tiger Woods played the role of coach/manager for Jupiter Links during their match on Monday night against L.A. However, that will change on Tuesday when Woods plays for the first time this year.Jupiter regained the lead 5-4 when Justin Rose three-putted from long distance. Kim placed his tee shot on a par 3 at 6 feet, and Jupiter applied the “hammer”. Tommy Fleetwood responded with a tee shot at 4 feet for matching birdies.
This led to the 15th hole, where Theegala’s precision made the difference.
If Jupiter wins Match 2 on Tuesday night, Match 3 will be played immediately after at the SoFi Center.
Woods, 50, underwent lumbar disc replacement surgery in October and also suffered a rupture of the left Achilles tendon last March.
The winner of 15 majors has not participated in an event since the Open Championship at Royal Troon in 2024.
Woods has remained silent about his participation in next month’s Masters, commenting last week: “I’ve been working on it. Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad days. The disc replacement is not very fun.”
