Tiger Woods is expected to return to competitive golf at the TGL opener on December 27, 2026, and possibly the Hero World Challenge and PNC Championship

Tiger Woods may finally be back in action at the TGL opener on December 27 as golf fans await his return.

The TGL season opens with a double-header for expansion team Motor City Golf Club, featuring five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, who takes on Rory McIlroy's Boston Common Golf in the opening match. Then 15-time major champion Woods' Jupiter Links Golf Club faces off against Los Angeles Golf Club.

According to sources who spoke with ESPN on Tuesday, Woods is expected to play in Jupiter Links GC's season opener, provided he avoids any further physical setbacks, although he has not yet officially committed to participating in the high-tech, indoor hybrid golf league. However, TGL has other battles as it will compete for viewership with the NFL.

Kevin Kisner told the Fore Play podcast just days ago that he believes Woods is looking to play a full TGL schedule, as the 42-year-old played with Jupiter Links last season.

“Tiger wants to play, and they wanted to sign Keith Mitchell, which is totally fine with me,” Kisner said on the podcast as his two-year contract expired.

“Rob (McNamara], Tiger’s guy, he texted me a long text last week. Just telling me what they did on their decisions, how they were moving around and what players were going to do, and that Tiger wanted to play a full schedule.”

Following his seventh back surgery in October 2025, a lengthy recovery kept Woods sidelined until his most previous TGL appearance at the 2025 season finale in late March.

Just days after teeing off in TGL and hinting at a potential 2026 Masters showing, the 82-time PGA Tour champion was involved in a single vehicle roll-over crash. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI and left the country for a rehabilitation stint.

Under the terms of a deal, Woods entered a plea of no contest on Sept. 2 to misdemeanor charges involving reckless driving and refusing to take a lawful test, resulting in a five-year suspension of his driver's license.

The last time he played competitively was at the 2024 Open Championship, and Kisner noted that he could play the Hero World Challenge and the PNC Championship come December 2026.

“He’s going to play both,” Kisner said on the show. “He can’t have any more setbacks injury-wise. The way he was swinging and moving on the range, I mean the guy loves to compete.

“Come back, get your feet wet at the Hero, play with Charlie in the Father/Son, play some TGL, get ready for Augusta.”

All but three spots in the 20-man field have been announced for the no-cut, 72-hole event at the Hero World Challenge, which Woods hosts.