For golf fans, December usually brings the heartwarming sight of Tiger Woods and his son Charlie teeing off together at the PNC Championship.
Since their debut in 2020, the father-son duo has made the event a cherished annual tradition. Charlie, only 11 at the time, stunned audiences with his composure and skill, even scoring an eagle with a hooked 5-wood.
Over the years, their appearances have captured the imagination of golf enthusiasts everywhere. But this year, that familiar tradition may be put on hold.
On October 10, 2025, Tiger Woods revealed he had undergone a significant back operation, his seventh back surgery. “After experiencing pain and lack of mobility in my back, I consulted with doctors and surgeons,” Woods wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“The scans determined I had a collapsed disc in L4/5, disc fragments, and a compromised spinal cord. I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday and already know I made a good decision for my health and my back.”
This marks Tiger’s second major surgery this year. Back in March, he had an Achilles tendon procedure, which forced him to skip several PGA Tour events, including the 2025 Masters. Though he was recently seen practicing swings at the Liberty National Golf Club during the Nexus Cup, fans now know those efforts preceded another physical setback.
The recovery timeline for back surgery typically spans several months, significantly reducing the likelihood of Tiger playing competitive golf before year-end. As a result, expectations for a Woods appearance at the 2025 PNC Championship have all but vanished.
Over five PNC Championship appearances, Tiger and Charlie have delivered memorable moments and strong performances. They finished second in both 2021 and 2024, tied for fifth in 2023, and placed eighth in 2022. Despite their efforts, a win has eluded them and 2025, it seems, won’t be the year they change that.
A return in a new format
Though the PNC may be off the table, Tiger Woods has his eyes set on a different kind of comeback. He confirmed he will captain Jupiter Links Golf Club in TGL (The Golf League) Season 2, starting January 13, 2026.
TGL, a tech-powered indoor golf league co-founded by Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley, aims to modernize the game with short-format matches, immersive visuals, and team-based competition.
Jupiter Links will face New York Golf Club in the season opener, with Woods joined by teammates Max Homa, Tom Kim, and Kevin Kisner. With ESPN broadcasting the action, fans will have the chance to see Tiger in a new setting, one that doesn’t require walking 18 holes, yet still showcases his strategic brilliance.
As Tiger begins rehab, the golf world wishes him a full recovery and awaits the next chapter in a legendary career, on new terms, but with the same fire.
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