Tiger Woods has suffered another major blow in his long-running battle to return to top-level golf after fresh reports suggested the American icon will miss all four major championships for a second straight season.
The 15-time major winner has not competed in a major since the Open Championship at Royal Troon in 2024, with injuries and off-course issues continuing to derail any hopes of a sustained comeback.
Now the 50-year-old’s absence from golf’s biggest events appears set to continue after reports in the United States claimed Woods will not feature at either the US Open or the Open Championship later this summer.
According to veteran golf reporter Bob Harig, Woods is no longer exempt for next month’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills and therefore will not be part of the field.
The golf legend is also believed not to have entered before the deadline for this year’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
The R&A have yet to officially confirm the final field for the tournament.
This latest setback continues a miserable period for Woods, whose attempts to revive his career have repeatedly been interrupted by injury problems dating back several years.
Tiger Woods has suffered another major blow in his long-running battle to return to top-level golf after fresh reports suggested the American icon will miss all four major championships for a second straight season
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GETTY
The 15-time major winner has not competed in a major since the Open Championship at Royal Troon in 2024, with injuries and off-course issues continuing to derail any hopes of a sustained comeback
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Woods has not played competitively since undergoing another back operation in October, the seventh surgery of his career.
He also suffered a torn Achilles in March 2025, which ruled him out of last year’s majors and further complicated his recovery plans.
Since the devastating car crash in California in 2021 that nearly resulted in the amputation of his right leg, Woods has played only a limited schedule.
Golfers with the most majors in history
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Across the eight major championships he has entered since that accident, Woods has missed the cut four times and withdrawn from another event mid-tournament.
There had initially been optimism earlier this year that the former world No 1 could make a return at Augusta National.
However, those hopes were effectively ended following Woods’ arrest in Florida in March after a serious road incident near his home in Jupiter Island.
Authorities alleged Woods was attempting to overtake another vehicle at speed when his SUV collided with a trailer before overturning.
A police report later stated officers found two painkillers in his possession and claimed Woods displayed signs of impairment at the scene.
While Woods reportedly passed a breathalyser test for alcohol, authorities said he declined to provide a urine sample.
Since the devastating car crash in California in 2021 that nearly resulted in the amputation of his right leg, Tiger Woods has played only a limited schedule
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The American was subsequently charged with driving under the influence, property damage and refusing to comply with a lawful testing request.
Woods has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the incident, reports emerged that the golfing superstar travelled to Zurich for what was described as intensive treatment as concerns around both his physical and mental wellbeing grew.
Woods was later seen back in Florida earlier this month before reportedly returning to Switzerland again over the weekend.
The latest developments have only increased uncertainty surrounding whether one of the greatest golfers in history will ever seriously compete at the highest level again.
Woods remains one of the sport’s most iconic figures after winning 15 major championships and transforming golf’s global popularity during his peak years.
