March 26, 2026Updated March 27, 2026, 6:59 p.m. ET
Tiger Woods has made no secret of his desire to play at The Masters in two weeks. He said as much after making his season debut at the TGL finals on Tuesday, March 24.
“I’ve been trying,” Woods said afterward. “This body just doesn’t recover like it did when I was 24 or 25. I want to play. I love the tournament. I love being there since I was 19 years old. I’m going to be there either way.”
But a recent Fox News segment has cast further doubt on Woods’ chances to compete for a chance at his sixth green jacket. During an appearance on “The Five” on Thursday, March 26, U.S. President Donald Trump said Woods is a no-go for Augusta National.
“I love Tiger, but he won’t be there,” the president said. “Well, he’ll be there, but he won’t be playing in it.”
That statement came when Trump was asked who he’d be rooting for, but he dodged the question and failed to pick anyone.
“They’re just great players,” Trump said. “It’s hard for me. If I pick somebody, I’m going to have enemies, I’m going to have 10 guys who won’t speak to me.”
Woods is dating Vanessa Trump, the president’s ex-daughter-in-law.
Woods’ TGL appearance on Tuesday marked his first competitive appearance since tearing his Achilles a year ago and though he had just nine swings as his Jupiter Links Golf Club fell to Los Angeles GC, it represented a small but significant step toward returning to the PGA Tour.
