Trump Says Tiger Woods Won't Play in 2026 Masters

Woods has expressed hopes to compete, but Trump casts doubt on his participation.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 12:05am

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Former President Donald Trump has claimed that Tiger Woods will not play in the 2026 Masters tournament, despite Woods' own statements that he has been trying to recover and hopes to compete at Augusta National. Trump made the remarks during an appearance on Fox News, casting further uncertainty over whether Woods' recent return to competitive play will extend to a sixth green jacket pursuit.

Why it matters

Tiger Woods is one of the most iconic and successful golfers of all time, with 15 major championship titles including 5 Masters wins. His potential participation in the Masters is always a major storyline, and Trump's comments add an interesting wrinkle as Woods continues to battle injuries and work towards a comeback.

The details

Woods, 50, recently made his season debut in the final match of the TGL season, marking his first competitive appearance since tearing his Achilles in March 2025. While Woods expressed hope to play in the Masters, Trump suggested otherwise during a Fox News interview, saying "I love Tiger, but he won't be there. Well, he'll be there, but he won't be playing in it." Woods has undergone numerous surgeries in recent years, mostly to his knees and back, including a lumbar disc replacement in October.

  • Woods last competed (aside from TGL) on July 19, 2024, when he missed the cut at the Open Championship.
  • Woods underwent lumbar disc replacement surgery in October.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who made the claim that Tiger Woods will not play in the 2026 Masters.

Tiger Woods

One of the most successful and iconic golfers of all time, with 15 major championship titles including 5 Masters wins. He has expressed hopes to compete in the 2026 Masters despite ongoing injury issues.

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What they’re saying

“I've been trying. This body just doesn't recover like it did when I was 24 or 25. I want to play. I love the tournament. I love being there since I was 19 years old. I'm going to be there either way.”

— Tiger Woods

“I love Tiger, but he won't be there. Well, he'll be there, but he won't be playing in it.”

— Donald Trump

What’s next

The 2026 Masters tournament will take place in April, and Woods' participation or lack thereof will continue to be a major storyline leading up to the event.

The takeaway

Tiger Woods' ongoing injury struggles and uncertainty around his ability to compete at the highest level again highlight the challenges even the greatest athletes can face in the latter stages of their careers. Trump's comments add an additional layer of intrigue, though Woods himself has expressed a desire to play in the Masters if his body allows it.