Tiger Woods announced Monday that he will not be playing this week’s Genesis Invitational, where he is the tournament host.
“I planned to tee it up this week, but I’m just not ready,” said Woods, whose mother Kultida passed away last week at the age of 80, in a statement. “I did my best to prepare, knowing it’s what my Mom would have wanted, but I’m still processing her loss.
“Thanks to everyone who has reached out. I hope to be at Torrey later in the week, and I appreciate the continued kindness since my mom’s passing.”
Woods’ last competitive start on the PGA Tour was at The 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club, where he missed the cut. Woods has played twice this year for Jupiter Links Golf Club in the new tech-infused TGL golf league, which he founded with Rory McIlroy and Mike McCarley.
Jake Knapp replaces the 82-time PGA Tour winner in the field. Knapp’s earliest golf memory is watching Woods beat Stephen Ames, 9 and 8, at the 2006 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and having Woods’ caddie, Steve Williams, toss him one of the balls from the match.
Annually among the strongest fields in golf, playing commitments include:
- Scottie Scheffler (World No. 1, 2022 and 2024 Masters champion, 13-time PGA Tour winner, 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist).
- Rory McIlroy (World No. 3, 27-time PGA Tour winner, four-time major winner).
- Collin Morikawa (World No. 4 and six-time PGA Tour champion, two-time major winner).
- Hideki Matsuyama (World No. 5, 11-time PGA Tour winner and 2021 Masters champion).
- Ludvig Aberg (World No. 6).
- Wyndham Clark (World No. 7 and 2023 U.S. Open champion).
- Viktor Hovland (World No. 9; six-time PGA Tour winner).
The field also features 17 major champions – including 2017 and 2022 PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas (World No. 15), 2015 PGA Championship winner Jason Day (World No. 32) and three-time major winner Jordan Spieth. Past Genesis Invitational winners in the field include Matsuyama, Max Homa (2021), and Adam Scott (2020 and 2005). Past winners at Torrey Pines in the field include Woods, Homa (2023), Jason Day (2015 and 2018), Justin Rose (2019), Matthieu Pavon (2024) and Harris English (2025).
