19 of the top 50 in the field, yet no sign of Tiger Woods so far. The PGA Tour revealed the field for the Cognizant Classic (previously known as the Honda Classic). While Rory McIlroy headlines the 144-man field, where a further 18 from the top 50 will tee up, Tiger Woods was a glaring absence. Many expected the 82-time PGA Tour winner to tee up at the $9 million purse event after bowing out of the Genesis Invitational. 

The 15-time Major winner admitted that he needed to dust off the rust from his game. Moreover, the course is within driving distance of the Woods’s Jupiter residence. However, it seems that the 15-time Major champion hasn’t yet recovered fully from influenza that forced him out of the Genesis Invitational, the Signature event he hosts at the Riviera Country Club. 

Notably, Woods was also not present at his son Charlie Woods’s first PGA Tour pre-qualifier at Lost Lake Golf Club. In his absence, his ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, was cheering for the 15-year-old, who missed his chance after shooting 16-over 86.  Interestingly, at the Genesis Invitational, Tiger Woods also admitted that his back was still bothering him as he tried to adapt to the changing reality. 

The 82-time PGA Tour winner said that his back impacted his game in the last few holes. Explaining the shank in the 18th hole during the first round, Woods said, “Well, my back was spasming the last couple holes and it was locking up. I came down and it didn’t move, and I presented [the] hosel first and shanked it.” As the former World No. 1 is going to miss one more event, fans are wondering when they can see Woods next. 

Where will Tiger Woods play next?

Tiger Woods initially planned to play one tournament a month. Speaking at the Hero World Challenge last December, the 48-year-old said, “Once a month seems reasonable. It gives me a couple of weeks to recover and a week to tune up. Maybe I can get into the rhythm.” That was a “realistic” situation, per the Hall of Famer. Judging by that, the five-time Masters Champion has already played his first tournament this month, albeit only for 25 holes. 

Shanks to Dropping Club in Lake: Times Tiger Woods Got Hit With Misfortunes on the Course

After the Cognizant Classic, the Tour will travel overseas for the Puerto Rican Open. It is unlikely that a recovering Woods will fly aboard. Post that, the Tour will come to the Stateside for its fourth Signature event, the Arnold Palmer Invitational. It’s not clear if Woods will tee up for that, as within one week, the Players Championship will kick-start at the Ponte Vedra, the Tour headquarters. 

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Notably, many expect an announcement regarding the $3 billion PGA Tour-PIF merger deal when the Tour returns to TPC Sawgrass. If Woods, a Tour Policy board member, decides to grace the Sawgrass greens, it will likely be his last outing before the Masters. Tiger Woods is an eight-time champion of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and a two-time champion of the Players Championship.

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