Tiger Woods hinted at the possibility of playing at the Masters 2026. The American golfer has been away from the field for over a year now. His last outing came in 2024 at the Open Championship. He has been recovering from his surgery.

Woods is the host for this week’s Genesis Invitational, and on Saturday, he joined the CBS broadcasters on the panel to talk about the event. He was asked if there is anyone he knows who is playing at the Masters 2026, to which the 15-time major winner wittily said:

“I know I’ll be there. We’re going to open up the patch, and Trevor and I are going to be a part of a great dinner.”

He was later asked if there was a “possibility” of his playing at the Masters.

“There is,” Woods replied.

Tiger Woods has hinted at playing in the first major of the year. On Wednesday, in a pre-tournament press conference at the Genesis Invitational, he was asked if the Masters was “off the table” for him.

“No,” he said.

Woods has won the Masters five times in his career and holds a lifetime exemption to play in the major. As a past winner of the event, he will be attending the Champions Dinner ahead of the major and is likely to play in the event as well.

Woods last played at the Masters in 2024. He carded four rounds of 73, 72, 82, and 77 to settle in 60th place.

Tiger Woods opens up about setbacks keeping him away from the field

Tiger Woods opened up about his schedule and the chances of playing this year. In a pre-tournament press conference at the Genesis Invitational on Wednesday, he was asked about his chance to play on the PGA Tour or the Champions Tour.

“Well, I’m trying, put it that way,” he said.

He also reflected on the setback.

“Well, the disc replacement has been one thing,” he said. “It’s been a challenge to — I’ve had a fused back and now a disc replacement, so it’s challenging. And now I entered a new decade, so that number is starting to sink in and has us thinking about the opportunity to be able to play in a cart. That’s something that, as I said, I won’t do out here on this tour because I don’t believe in it. But on the Champions Tour, that’s certainly that opportunity.”

Tiger Woods underwent a disc replacement surgery in October last year. He did not play in any event last year.

It would be interesting to see when he will make a comeback. The Masters 2026 is scheduled to take place from April 9 to April 12. Rory McIlroy will return to defend his title at the Augusta National.