Tiger Woods Focused on Return, Talks 2025 Ryder Cup

Tiger Woods has expressed that the “fire still burns” for him to compete, despite ongoing injury setbacks. The 15-time major winner, who has not played since The Open in July and failed to make the cut for the third consecutive major, remains focused on making a competitive return. At 48, Woods has faced numerous injuries in recent years with his most recent issue stemming from back problems that have spread to his legs. After undergoing back surgery for the sixth time in September, Woods admitted that he didn’t expect his back to worsen this year.

Although Woods is not yet “tournament sharp,” he remains determined to return to competitive play, acknowledging that his recovery process now takes longer than it did in his prime. “The fire still burns to compete,” Tiger Woods said but he emphasized that the recovery of his body is no longer what it once was. He added that while he feels stronger and more flexible after his surgery, he still has a long way to go before he can compete at the highest level again.

Woods also weighed in on the upcoming 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, suggesting that U.S. players should receive a fee of $5 million each, a proposal higher than what has been discussed. However, Woods believes that the players should donate this money to charity. Reflecting on past discussions about charity donations, Woods recalled how, in 1999, players wanted the Ryder Cup’s earnings to go to charity instead of personal payments. Woods believes that the funds generated by the event could better support charitable causes.