Tiger Woods absent from his own tournament field

Tournament host Tiger Woods was not listed in the initial player field for the Hero World Challenge in Albany, Bahamas from December 5-8.

Woods who has not competed since missing the cut at the 152nd Open in July could still be drafted into the field via one of three exemption spots.

The fifteen-time major winner had microdecompression surgery for a nerve impingement on his lower back in September and is yet to issue an update on his recovery.

Woods said he would take a break from golf and did not plan to play and Official World Golf Ranking event for the remainder of the season but was targeting the Hero World Challenge where seventeen players have been added of the 20 available spots.

Woods’ playing time has been very limited this year, playing just five times including missing three cuts at the major championships, finishing 60th at the Masters and withdrawing from February’s Genesis Invitational due to illness, another event he hosts.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, 2016 champion Hideki Matsuyama and 2025 Team USA Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley are among the 17 players who have officially committed while Frenchman Mathieu Pavon will make his debut.