• Economy
  • Investing
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Editor’s Pick
Market Gains Updates
Sports

Can Tiger Woods play competitive golf again? ESPN analyst says no

by April 1, 2025
by April 1, 2025

Despite the false hope generated by an April Fool’s joke, Tiger Woods will not be at Augusta National next week competing for a sixth Masters title as he recovers from his latest surgery. But that doesn’t mean his presence won’t still be felt at the storied golf course.

‘I hope he gets back to where he can play,’ ESPN golf analyst Curtis Strange said Monday on a pre-tournament conference call. ‘We don’t even know if he can play ever again.

‘It’s going badly. But especially here, where he can come back and be comfortable and just be around. The people can’t get enough of him. We can’t get enough of him. It would be sad that he wouldn’t come back here and play in the future, but what the future holds, we have no idea.’

Woods last won at Augusta in 2019 with an improbable final-round charge for his fifth green jacket.

But after having surgery last month to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon, Woods is sitting out this year’s Masters as he focuses on rest and rehab.

Will Tiger Woods ever play again?

Perhaps a bigger issue than returning to Augusta is whether Woods will ever tee it up again on the PGA Tour.

‘Now we’re getting to the point that this next rehab is going to be brutally difficult for him,’ ESPN’s Andy North said on Monday’s call. ‘He doesn’t have to prove anything to anybody. He’s done everything he needed to do. If he were to announce in the next month or two that, you know what, I’m never playing competitive golf again. I think that would be great, and no one would have an issue with that.’

Woods, 49, hasn’t played an official tour event since last year’s British Open. He underwent back surgery in September and played using a cart at the PNC Championship in December alongside son Charlie. 

‘I think that the competitor in him – you know, you always think you can rehab. You always think you can come back. You always believe that you can do this,’ North said. ‘But I don’t have any magic answers there. I would think that he’s going to try to play some events after this rehab. Is it going to be a Tiger Woods that can compete? Deep in my heart, I don’t think so.’

Tiger Woods’ future

Woods’ place in golf history is unquestionably secure with his record-tying 82 PGA Tour wins and 15 major titles. Yet Strange believes Tiger can still bolster his legacy by continuing to return to the Masters.

‘You know, these great players, superstars, always talked about they never want to be a ceremonial player or something to that effect, like it’s a negative,’ Strange said.

‘I want to see him at Augusta for a long time in the future playing. He’s not going to play the way he wants to, but I think the people would love to see him, much like they saw Jack and Arnie, especially Arnie, for a long time.’

Strange and North will be part of ESPN’s live first- and second-round coverage of the 2025 Masters, beginning Thursday, April 10.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
Buzz Williams buyout: What Maryland basketball likely owes Texas A&M
next post
NBA playoff picture: Standings, play-in information

You may also like

Messi makes MLS history with brace in Inter...

July 10, 2025

Yankees cut three-time All-Star, must pay him nearly...

July 10, 2025

Joey Chestnut vs. Usain Bolt: ‘Of course I’d...

July 10, 2025

Devin Booker agrees to record-setting extension with Suns,...

July 10, 2025

What Deion Sanders said at Big 12 media...

July 10, 2025

Cooper Flagg’s NBA Summer League debut ticket prices...

July 10, 2025

Ex-NBA player sentenced to 100 months in prison...

July 10, 2025

Former UFC fighter Ben Askren provides emotional health...

July 10, 2025

2025 NBA Cup groups announced: Which are easiest,...

July 10, 2025

New England vs. Inter Miami live updates: Messi...

July 10, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News And Articles.

    Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

    Top News

    Amazon extends Prime Day discounts to 4 days...

    July 9, 2025

    Boeing delivers most airplanes since late 2023 after...

    July 9, 2025

    Waymo offers teen accounts for driverless rides

    July 8, 2025

    Is a Chinese chain’s blood orange cold brew...

    July 7, 2025

    Is a Chinese chain’s blood orange cold brew...

    July 7, 2025

    • About us
    • Contacts
    • Email Whitelisting
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions

    Copyright © 2025 MarketGainsUpdates.com All Rights Reserved.

    Market Gains Updates
    • Economy
    • Investing
    • Politics
    • Sports
    • Editor’s Pick