Tiger doesn't rule out possibility of playing 2026 Masters

Playing at the 2026 Masters isn't out of the question for Tiger Woods.

While speaking to reporters Tuesday ahead of this week's Genesis Invitational, Woods was asked if playing in this year's first major is off the table. He replied, "No."

Woods underwent lumbar disc replacement surgery in October - his seventh back procedure - and had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon in March. He was only cleared for short and mid irons in January but said he's now able to hit full shots. He added that he's open to playing on the PGA TOUR Champions with a cart now that he's eligible, having turned 50 in December.

"I entered a new decade, so that number's starting to sink in and has (me) thinking about the opportunity to play in a cart," Woods said, per Golf Channel. "That's something, as I said, I won't do (on the PGA TOUR) because I don't believe in it, but on the Champions Tour, that's certainly an opportunity."

Woods last played a PGA TOUR event at the 2024 Open Championship. He won his last tournament in 2019 at the Zozo Championship.