Tournament host Tiger Woods was not listed in the initial player field released on Monday for the December 3-6 Hero World Challenge in Albany, Bahamas, but could still be added as one of the three exemption spots.
The 15-time major champion has not competed in an official event since The Open at Royal Troon in July 2024, where he missed the cut. A potential return in 2026 appeared possible when Woods discussed the prospect of playing at the Masters.
But Woods was arrested on March 27 following a vehicle crash on Jupiter Island, Florida. The 50-year-old accepted a five-year suspension of his driver's licence last month after reaching a deal with prosecutors in his impaired-driving case. There has been no subsequent confirmation of when he might return to competitive golf.
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Hideki Matsuyama are among the 17 players who have officially committed to the Hero World Challenge's 20-man field. Scheffler, who won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, and Matsuyama are both looking to become the first three-time winner at Albany. In total, seven of the top 10 players in the world are among those in the field, including Cameron Young, Matt Fitzpatrick, Russell Henley, Chris Gotterup, Sam Burns and Xander Schauffele. The rest of the field will be announced at a later date.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing