Tiger Woods issues candid Masters update after beating Rory McIlroy to advance to final

Mar 18, 2026 - 11:15

Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links GC reached the TGL final with victory over Rory McIlroy’s No. 1 seed Boston Common Golf Club.

The golf great’s team will take on Los Angels Golf Club’s Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose in the showpiece, which starts Monday.

Akshay Bhatia has stepped up in Woods’ absence

Captain Woods has missed the entire 2026 season injured but oversaw a victory despite McIlroy’s return from his own troubles.

Los Angeles dethroned defending TGL champion Atlanta Drive 6-4.

“Now the ‘Bad News Bears’ can play,” Woods said. “So we’re back and we’re now advancing into the finals and it’s been incredible.

“As I said, the bonding that has, that occurs – no matter what team you’re on whether you’re playing for Ryder Cup or playing Presidents Cup, World Cups, whatever it is, the bonding that happens in this, in teams, it’s so different and unique.”

Akshay Bhatia, who joined Jupiter Links as an alternate in January, is in red-hot form with 20 straight PGA Tour rounds at par or better and put on a show alongside alongside Max Homa, Tom Kim, and Kevin Kisner.

“I think the bond is the biggest thing,” Bhatia said. “I’ve definitely gotten a lot closer with Max, especially at tournaments. Now I feel like every practice round we’re texting each other, and TK same thing.

“Obviously to have the greatest player of all time in your corner is really, really cool. I’m glad that I was an alternate for this team because this is definitely the kind of the best, you know, gathering of guys that I could have imagined.”

Tiger Woods issues candid Masters update

2025 Masters champion McIlroy failed to defend his Players Championship crown in the lead-up and all eyes now turn to Augusta in April.

The Masters is the first of four Majors and the golfing world would love to see five-time champion Woods on the first tee.

After Jupiter LInks’ victory, he didn’t rule out featuring.

Woods admits that age has caught up with him

TGL is gaining popularity and Woods’ presence will boost the final

“I said I’ve been working on it,” Woods said of his health. “Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad days. Disk replacement is not a lot of fun.

“So as I said, I’ve had a lot of procedures prior to that, so the body doesn’t quite heal like it was when I was 24. Doesn’t quite bounce back.

“So I have good days when I can pretty much do anything, and other days where it’s hard to just to move around.”

Woods underwent lumbar disk replacement surgery in October and the 50-year-old ruptured his left Achilles last March.

A 15-time Major winner, he hasn’t played in an event since the Open Championship at Royal Troon in 2024.

His last Masters title came in 2019.

It has been six years since Woods last pulled on the Green Jacket

Woods confirmed that he will not play in next week’s TGL finale as he trusts the men that got them there.

“Well, I think that I have been trying to play each and every one of these matches,” he said. “I’ve been trying to come back. But it just hasn’t worked out that way.

“But the guys here, this team, we have so much fun, I really don’t want to screw up the lineup, I just want these guys to keep playing.”

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