Although it has been over 235 days since his last competitive round, Tiger Woods will tee up in this week’s Hero World Challenge – his first worldwide start since withdrawing from the 2023 Masters.

Tiger is the tournament host for the event and is keen to hit the fairways again, saying he misses the competition and the camaraderie that comes playing on Tour. Due to injury, Tiger has been limited to just two PGA Tour events in the 2022/23 season – The Genesis Invitational where he finished T45 and the Master where he withdrew.

The event will be held in Albany in the Bahamas and it is Tiger’s 18th start in the event. He’s won it 5 times (2001, 2004, 2006-7 and 2011) however his best finish at this week’s venue, where he has competed 4 times, is T4th (in 2019).

While Tiger will undoubtedly be the headline act despite his limited playing schedule, there is plenty of competition waiting for his return.

Two-time defending champion Viktor Hovland looks to become the first player to win the Hero World Challenge three years in a row; the only other player to successfully defend a title, Tiger Woods, did not participate in the event the following year (Won/2006, Won/2007, DNP/2008)

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is making a third start at the event and first worldwide start since the TOUR Championship. He set the PGA TOUR record for Official Money earned in a single season in 2022-23 at $21,014,342

Eight of the 20 players in the field made at least one start during the FedExCup Fall (Keegan Bradley, Rickie Fowler, Lucas Glover, Brian Harman, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Cameron Young); Morikawa was the only player who won on TOUR in that span (ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP)

13 of the 20 players in the field competed in the 2023 Ryder Cup; nine for the United States (Sam Burns, Wyndham Clark, Rickie Fowler, Brian Harman, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas) and four for Europe (Matt Fitzpatrick, Viktor Hovland, Justin Rose, Sepp Straka)

Five past FedExCup Champions are in the field (Tiger Woods/2007 and 2009, Jordan Spieth/2015, Justin Thomas/2017, Justin Rose/2018, Viktor Hovland/2023) and12 of the 20 players in the field have won a major, including four players who have won two or more (Tiger Woods/15, Jordan Spieth/3, Collin Morikawa/2, Justin Thomas/2).

The chances of Tiger actually winning an event let alone a major from now is unlikely, you might have more luck getting a win at online pokies - however Tiger IS Tiger, you just never know!

Let’s hope Tiger can put in a bold showing because we’d love to see him back giving the majors a shake in 2024.