Woods returning to boost Jupiter in TGL Finals after loss

17 hours ago 3

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Jupiter Links GC may have lost the opening match of the TGL Finals Monday night, but they gained a big asset heading into Tuesday’s finale.

Tiger Woods is back.

Woods, who hasn’t played on the PGA Tour since The Open Championship in July 2024 but did play TGL in its inaugural season, will be competing for the first time since he had a back surgery in October 2025. Woods is constantly asked about his return to play (as he continues to be on the sidelines for Jupiter Links as its coach), but has been noncommittal.

“Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad days. Disk replacement is not a lot of fun,” Woods said after the semifinal. “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 move around.”

After Jupiter Links fell to Los Angeles Golf Club 6-5 in Match 1 of the best-of-three championship, though, Woods is going to get off the sidelines and into the arena.

The big cat is on the prowl once again.

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Jupiter Links had a tremendous chance to win the opener Monday night at the SoFi Centre, but Kevin Kisner had a poor effort on the closing par-5 15th, mishitting his fairway wood approach just 150 yards. Sahith Theegala, who had struggled mightily through the evening, managed to stay steady enough in the closing hole to win two points — with the hammer thrown — and push Los Angeles from a one-point deficit to a one-point victory.

“These guys had my back all night, and they’ve had my back the last two years, and I know they’ll continue to have my back. It’s just a great feeling knowing that they trust me,” Theegala said. “It was a decision to hit driver or less, but honestly, when it came down to the moment, I felt good about driver, and I don’t know why I felt good about driver (off the tee on 15). But again, these guys trusted me and (my caddie) trusted me, so just went ahead and tried to execute.

“(Kisner) got a little unlucky there on the last hole, but it was awesome to be able to put together two good shots there when the match was on the line.”

The match was a bit of a pillow fight to begin, with both teams struggling on the greens early. But Justin Rose hit the shot of the match on No. 8, pitching in from 35 feet to push Los Angeles into a 2-2 tie. Jupiter Links threw the hammer on No. 9, but Los Angeles declined. They trailed 3-2 heading into singles.

It was 3-3 after No. 10 after Max Homa missed yet another short putt for Jupiter Links.

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“I think it was probably just one of those nights. The short ones are tricky,” Homa said. “You get certain pins, especially around that bunker, that have a decent amount of break, and where you leave it is pretty paramount.

“You just have those spots that it’s going to be awkward. We had two horseshoes tonight.”

It was tied 4-4 through 12 holes, with Theegala hitting his second shot of the match into the penalty area on the par 3. Homa then won the next hole, No. 13, to put Jupiter Links up by one until Kisner’s final-hole collapse.

“I feel pretty (bad) to be honest with you after losing the last hole,” Kisner said. “I thought I hit a perfect chip (on 15), didn’t go in, and sucks to be on the end of (a loss). A couple weeks ago, we had the last hole to win the match for all of us, and now losing that just feels terrible. It’s a great team. I enjoy it. I had so much fun competing and can’t wait to try to beat them tomorrow.”

Tuesday is set to be a busy day for both teams. If Jupiter Links manages to win Match 2, then they will turn around and go out immediately for Match 3 — the deciding match for the SoFi Cup.

While Jupiter Links is down, they will be up a player on Tuesday — and not just any addition. The 15-time major winner himself is back. Woods has been chipping and putting through the TGL season, but we’ve yet to see him make full swings. It won’t, of course, be a fiery and epic return with walking up hills and battling the elements. But he will be back in a competitive environment and, well, you can’t count out Tiger Woods when it comes time to get a big win.