The Players Championship is considered to be the unofficial fifth major on the PGA Tour. The event, held at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, consistently hosts the best golfers on tour for the signature event.
However, there is one golfer whose name rises above the rest that will not be in attendance — Tiger Woods.
Woods, 48, will not be playing at the 2024 Players Championship. He is a two-time winner at TPC, previously winning the tournament in 2001 and 2013, but he has not played at the event since 2019.
His absence continues a trend with the aging legend. The 15-time major champion is coming off fusion surgery on his ankle. He played in his first event in 2024 last month at the Genesis Invitation, but he was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to an illness.
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Here is more information on why Woods is not playing at the 2024 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
Why is Tiger Woods not playing at the Players Championship?
Woods is not listed among the 144-player field participating at TPC Sawgrass this coming weekend. It is unclear why the golf legend won't be at the tournament.
The 48-year-old has not stated publicly his reasons for not playing at the 2024 Player Championship.
Woods never specified that he would play at TPC Sawgrass this year, but many expected the golfer to be in attendance. The timing of the tournament makes sense for him — it's three full tournament weeks after his lone start of the year at the Genesis Invitational, and it's three more full tournaments before the Masters, giving Woods time to rest and recover for the major.
Coming off right ankle surgery, it was expected that Woods would not be frequenting tour events nearly as often as he did during the prime of his career. He hinted back in December that he could see himself playing once a month. That same month, he played in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, a tournament Woods hosted with benefits going to the Tiger Woods Foundation, as well as the PNC with his son, Charlie.
He attempted to play at the Genesis Invitational in February but was forced to withdraw due to illness in the second round. However, Woods also admitted to feeling back spasms in the first round.
Until Woods speaks on why he is not playing at TPC Sagrass, fans are left to speculate what exactly is going on with the legendary pro.
When will Tiger Woods play next?
Given the mystery behind his absence at the Players Championship, it's unclear when fans will see Woods on the links again.
After the Players Championship, there are three more PGA Tour events on the calendar before the Masters take place in the second week of April. Since Woods has a lifetime invite to Augusta as a former champion, he does not need to try and make the cut for the iconic event.
It would certainly make sense for Woods to get at least one test run in before the Masters, though, especially after injuring the ankle. But his absence at TPC Sawgrass could signal that he is taking his time to gear up for the major competition.
Here is a look at the upcoming schedule on the PGA Tour.
| Tournament | Dates | Location |
| Valspar Championship | March 21-24 | Palm Harbor, Florida |
| Texas Children's Houston Open | March 28-31 | Houston, Texas |
| Valero Texas Open | April 4-7 | San Antonio, Texas |
| Masters Tournament | April 11-14 | Augusta, Georgia |
