Since debuting in 2020, Tiger Woods and his son Charlie have transformed the PNC Championship into one of golf’s most beloved family traditions. Their annual appearance has become a December highlight, a father-son ritual that blends emotion, nostalgia, and sheer competitive joy. But this year, the familiar rhythm surrounding Team Woods seems different, with anticipation giving way to uncertainty.

This variable was clarified ahead of the Hero World Challenge, where the 15-time major champion confirmed that Team Woods will not compete in the December 18–21 event at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando.

Tiger Woods has officially ruled himself and his son Charlie out of the upcoming PNC Championship, a decision shaped by his recent lumbar disc replacement in October and his ongoing recovery from Achilles tendon surgery in March, procedures that have slowed his return to competitive go.

Woods began by addressing the obvious question, why he won’t play, making it clear that the decision was rooted in fairness and respect for the event. “No, it wouldn't be fair,” he said. “Not only it wouldn't be fair to my son, but it wouldn't be fair to another team that could play and could have that experience that we've had for a number of years.”

Having recently been cleared only to “chip and putt,” Woods stressed he is far from being tournament-ready. He added that his recovery is “not as fast as I'd like it to be,” though still “a good thing to do something I needed to have happen.”

The PNC Championship, one of the most beloved family events in golf, features major champions or Players Championship winners paired with a non-professional relative. For Woods, it has offered a rare chance to compete alongside Charlie, now a highly ranked junior golfer who led Benjamin School to the Class 1A state championship last month.

Their absence is significant, given the emotional weight of last year’s (2024) run, where the duo battled Bernhard Langer and his son Jason in a playoff, ultimately finishing runner-up. Woods called the experience “the thrill of a lifetime,” while Charlie described it as the most fun he has ever had on a golf course.

As for where Woods stands physically, he offered a detailed update. The lumbar disc replacement addressed a collapsed L4–L5 disc, fragments, and pressure on the spinal canal, issues that had caused “pain and lack of mobility.”

Despite the slow pace, he remains committed to the rehabilitation process, noting, “It just takes some time and dedication to the rehab process.” This procedure was his 13th major surgery, following a pattern of physical setbacks that included a nerve-impingement surgery in 2024 and an Achilles tendon repair earlier this year.

Woods also clarified how this affects his near-term schedule, including the TGL season that begins Dec. 28. While he is “not able to play the first part of the TGL season,” he confirmed he will be present at every Jupiter Links match as co-owner.

He hopes “maybe [to] play the end of the season here and there,” but emphasized uncertainty until he progresses beyond chipping and putting. He additionally acknowledged he is “way away” from deciding whether he will play on the PGA Tour Champions when he turns 50 later this month.

By stepping aside from the PNC Championship, Woods ensures that another deserving family team can take the spot he and Charlie have occupied for five unforgettable years. And though fans will miss their father-son bond on the fairways, Woods’ message is clear: healing comes first, because only then can the next chapter begin.

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu