Tommy Fleetwood has expressed surprise after learning that Tiger Woods is ineligible for the Players Championship. The 82-time PGA Tour winner is currently recovering from his seventh back surgery, with no confirmed return date, though he has hinted at a possible appearance at the Masters.
Woods, 50, does not meet the eligibility criteria for the tournament, which requires participants to have won at least one PGA Tour event since the previous Players Championship and a major within the last five years. His most recent major victory came at the 2019 Masters.
“Is Tiger not eligible for this event… That’s unbelievable,” Fleetwood said ahead of the tournament. “I would love Tiger Woods to play. I can’t believe he’s not eligible. How bad is Tiger Woods at golf? No, no, I am actually very surprised. I didn’t realise.”
The Players Championship is unique in not offering sponsor exemptions. Qualification is also possible for players in the top 10 of the FedEx Cup points list before the event, or those ranked inside the world’s top 50. Woods last won the 2019 Baycurrent Classic and has made only 15 of 21 cuts since then.
Justin Thomas also commented on Woods’ absence: “I mean, I’m always going to be for him playing. I think for the betterment of golf and the tournament, I don’t think there’s anybody that would be against it.” Woods has not ruled out a return at the Masters in April, saying: “I don’t know. Whether it’s a regular tour, a senior tour, or a member-guest, I don’t know.”
