For the first time in years, Tiger Woods is notably absent from Augusta National-not only from the competition, but also from the annual Masters champions dinner. The 15-time major champion, who recently underwent surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon, opted out of the prestigious gathering hosted by 2023 champion Scottie Scheffler.
While his absence from the course was anticipated, his decision to skip the ceremonial dinner caught many by surprise.
The champions dinner, a long-standing Masters tradition, took place Tuesday night with 35 living former winners invited to attend. Among the three no-shows were Vijay Singh, Sandy Lyle, and Woods. While Singh and Lyle have offered no public reasoning, a new report from the Daily Mail sheds light on Woods’ choice.
According to sources close to the situation, Woods made the call to stay away from Augusta to avoid becoming a media distraction.
“[Woods] wanted to respect the event and not overshadow anyone else with his presence,” the Daily Mail reported.
Grief, recovery and newfound romance
Beyond his concern for preserving the sanctity of the event, Woods is said to still be grappling with the February death of his mother, Kultida Woods. Her passing was a significant blow for the 48-year-old golfer, who has credited her as one of the cornerstones of his life and career.
On top of his personal loss, Woods is also dealing with increased public interest surrounding his new relationship with Vanessa Trump-the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. and mother to five of former President Trump’s grandchildren. The couple went public last month following weeks of speculation, and the media attention that followed has only added to the golfer’s desire for privacy.
“He saw the media brouhaha when it came out that he and Vanessa were dating, and he didn’t want to bring that to Augusta,” a source told the Daily Mail. “It would become a sideshow, and Tiger now tries to avoid as many circuses as possible.”
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