When the initial field for the 2026 Hero World Challenge was announced on Monday, it read like a VIP guest list for golf royalty. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, defending champion Hideki Matsuyama, World No. 3 Cameron Young, and 14 other stars are all set to compete in the Bahamas. But while 17 big names made the list, one name was missing. And it was the one that could have stolen the show.
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With three exemptions still to be announced, Tiger Woods remains a possibility for the December 3-6 event in Albany, although organizers have not indicated that any of those spots are intended for him.
The timing has drawn attention because TGR Live shared footage of Woods hitting shots during an exhibition tied to the TGR Junior Invitational at Pebble Beach on October 13, 2026. GOLF.com reported on the footage shortly before the Hero World Challenge field was announced.
The clip showed Woods swinging a golf club. But there is a significant difference between hitting shots at an exhibition and preparing to compete over four tournament rounds.
Woods last played an individual PGA Tour event at the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon, where rounds of 79 and 77 left him 14 over par and saw him miss the cut. Since then, his appearances have been limited to the PNC Championship alongside his son Charlie in December 2024 and a brief virtual simulator appearance in the TGL Finals in early 2026.
Earlier this February, while watching his team Jupiter Links Golf Club secure a win at the Atlanta Drive GC, Woods was asked about whether he was close to joining his players on the course. He replied:
“Playing here? I don’t know. I like watching these guys. As far as competitive golf, it’s still some time.”
By the time the Hero World Challenge begins, more than two years will have passed since Woods last played a traditional 72-hole tournament. His last appearance came at the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon, where he missed the cut. Since stepping away from golf earlier this year, Woods has kept a low profile and has yet to say whether he plans to compete in December.
The past two years have been difficult for Woods, both physically and personally. He underwent surgery for a ruptured left Achilles tendon in March 2025, followed by lumbar disc replacement surgery in October, his seventh back operation. He had been working towards a return in early 2026, but a car crash on March 27 in Jupiter Island, Florida, changed those plans.
Woods was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, with authorities reporting that he had prescription pain medication in his possession. He later announced an indefinite break from golf to enter a 90-day residential rehabilitation program in Switzerland. The legal case was resolved in September through a plea agreement that included a five-year suspension of his driver’s license. For now, there is no clear timeline for his return to competitive golf.
While Woods’ status remains unresolved, the confirmed field for the 2026 Hero World Challenge is strong. Scheffler leads the lineup, joined by Young, Matt Fitzpatrick, Russell Henley, Chris Gotterup, Xander Schauffele, and Sam Burns among the players ranked inside the world’s top 10.
The field also includes Robert MacIntyre, Si Woo Kim, J.J. Spaun, Ryan Gerard, Hideki Matsuyama, Jacob Bridgeman, Tom Kim, Sepp Straka and Akshay Bhatia.
Kim, Gerard and Bridgeman will make their Hero World Challenge debuts. Bridgeman arrives after a breakthrough season that included victories at the Genesis Invitational in February and the Biltmore Championship Asheville in September. He also secured the winning point for the United States at the 2026 Presidents Cup.
Overall, 11 players from the 2026 Presidents Cup will compete at Albany, including eight members of the victorious American team.
Several notable names, including Rory McIlroy, Wyndham Clark and Tommy Fleetwood, are absent from the initial announcement. However, their absence does not confirm whether they declined invitations or could still be considered for the remaining spots.
The tournament also features a battle between two former champions. Matsuyama won the Hero World Challenge in 2016 and 2025, while Scheffler claimed back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. Both will have the chance to become the event’s first three-time winner at Albany.
For Woods, the tournament holds particular significance. He returned to competitive golf at the 2017 Hero World Challenge following spinal-fusion surgery. He went on to play 18 events in 2018 and capped the season by winning the Tour Championship.
With three exemptions still to be announced, Woods’ potential return remains a key question. His injury history makes the timing difficult to predict, leaving his participation uncertain as organizers prepare to finalize the field.