Tiger Woods is an American 15-time major champion from Cypress, California, on a limited Masters-only schedule in 2026, and the greatest golfer who has ever lived. His 82 PGA Tour victories tie Sam Snead’s all-time record. His 15 major titles trail only Jack Nicklaus’s 18. Every time he walks inside the ropes, the gallery swells by thousands, the television ratings spike, and the other players in the field know they are sharing a course with history.
What Woods did to professional golf cannot be overstated. He redefined the sport’s physical, mental, and cultural boundaries. At his peak, he drove the ball farther than his competitors while also being the best iron player, the best chipper, and the best putter in every field he entered. His ability to intimidate opponents simply by appearing on a leaderboard became known as the “Tiger Effect.” Course designers lengthened holes specifically because of him. Prize money exploded because of him. An entire generation of golfers exists because they watched him on television as children.
The numbers are staggering: five Masters titles (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019), three U.S. Opens (2000, 2002, 2008), three Open Championships (2000, 2005, 2006), and four PGA Championships (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007). His 1997 Masters, won by 12 shots at age 21, broke the tournament apart. His 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, won by 15 shots, is the most dominant performance in major championship history. His 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, won in a playoff on a broken leg, is the most gutsy. And his 2019 Masters, 14 years after his previous major, after four back surgeries, a public unraveling, and a car accident that nearly took his leg, is the greatest comeback in the history of sport. His children were waiting behind the 18th green. The gallery was screaming. Woods himself was crying. That moment transcended golf.
Since the 2021 car accident that shattered his right leg, Woods has competed on a severely limited schedule, primarily at the Masters, where his presence still commands the largest galleries and the most attention of any player in the field. Every appearance at Augusta might be the last. Every walk down Magnolia Lane might be the final time.
In 2026, Woods is expected to compete at The Masters at Augusta National, continuing his tradition of returning to the tournament that defined his career. His participation in the PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship remains uncertain due to physical limitations. Fans can follow coverage in United States time.