Why isn’t Tiger Woods taking part at The Players Championship? Golfer’s expected return date to PGA Tour

The Players Championship returned to our TV screens yesterday, taking place in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Justin Thomas will look to defend his title in golf’s ‘fifth major’, while Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Collin Morikawa will also compete for the victory.

One golfing star that will be absent from the flagship event is Tiger Woods.

The 15-time major champion will be inducted into golf’s Hall of Fame today (March 9) alongside three-time US Women’s Open champion Susie Maxwell Berning, however he is missing out on the highly anticipated competition as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Why isn’t Tiger Woods at The Players Championship?

Tiger Woods is still unable to compete due to last year’s horrific car crash that almost took his life.

The American golfer crashed into a tree on 23 February, 2021, suffering multiple open fractures in the tibia and fibula of his right leg and a number of significant injuries to his right foot and ankle.

Woods underwent multiple surgeries and had a rod inserted into the tibia, with screws and pins inserted into his foot and ankle, and has since been absent from the PGA Tour as he recovers.

The 46-year-old’s only appearance was alongside his 15-year-old son Charlie in December’s PNC Championship, though the struggle was apparent.

When will Tiger Woods return?

Woods has ruled out returning to the PGA Tour on a full-time basis, however he has admitted he will play in certain events in the future.

Woods hasn’t put a date on when he will return to golf, however The Open Championship at St. Andrews in Fife has been mentioned as it is relatively flat and wouldn’t be particularly difficult.

The event in Scotland takes place between 14 July and 17 July of this year and is likely to be the earliest Woods would return.

He has previously admitted he would ‘love’ to play at The Open Championship- a tournament he has won three times - if he is physically ready.