Tiger Woods has confirmed his participation in the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, marking his return to competitive golf after his last appearance at the British Open in July. This event will be particularly significant as it will be his first time playing 18 holes since undergoing a microdiscectomy in September, following a series of surgeries on his lower back.
Woods is entering the tournament just over a week after the passing of his mother, Kultida Woods, who recently died at the age of 80. The Genesis Invitational, which he hosts, has moved from Riviera Country Club due to wildfires affecting the Pacific Palisades area.
Though Woods has never won at Riviera, he has a remarkable record at Torrey Pines, with eight victories, including the memorable 2008 US Open. The Genesis Invitational features a limited field with no cut, which means Woods will have the opportunity to complete all four rounds — something he hasn’t done since last year’s Masters.
A 15-time major champion, Woods shares the record of 82 PGA Tour wins with Sam Snead. His last victory was in 2019 at the Zozo Championship. After a serious car accident in 2021 that left him with significant injuries, Woods has recently taken part in exhibition events, indicating his return to the sport is well underway.