Is Tiger Woods playing at WM Phoenix Open? Schedule, injury update for 2025 golf season
They credit Tiger Woods for turning the WM Phoenix Open into the PGA Tour party it became in recent years.
Back in 1997, during Woods' first full year on the PGA Tour, his hole-in-one at No. 16 and the raucous celebration that ensued helped give TPC Scottsdale's Stadium Course a reputation for having an atmosphere golf rarely, if ever, produced. The shot is now part of tournament lore ahead of the 2025 WM Phoenix Open, which will tee off with round one action beginning Thursday.
Woods has been more visible around professional golf in recent weeks, playing with his son again in December at the PNC Championship and then the start of the TGL last month. But he has rarely played the PGA Tour's long-running Phoenix-area stop, and it's one of the few tournaments on the schedule that Woods has never won before.
The scene at TPC Scottsdale nonetheless become appointment viewing for fans looking for something more akin to "Happy Gilmore," particularly at No. 16, where the grandstands can seat as many as 20,000 people these days. Will Woods be there for the fun this year?
Here's the latest on Woods' injury status and schedule for the 2025 PGA Tour season:
Is Tiger Woods playing at the WM Phoenix Open?
No. Woods was not included when the 2025 WM Phoenix Open field was finalized. He only has four appearances at this tournament during his PGA Tour career and has not played at TPC Scottsdale since 2015. Woods' best performance at the WM Phoenix Open came in 1999, when he finished in third place.
What happened to Tiger Woods' mom?
Even if Woods were signed up to play in Phoenix this week, circumstances this week put his potential golf schedule on the backburner. Woods announced via social media Tuesday that his mother, Kultida Woods, died. She was 80 years old.
"My Mom was a force of nature all her own, her spirit was simply undeniable," Woods posted on X (formerly Twitter). "She was quick with the needle and a laugh. She was my biggest fan, greatest supporter, without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible. She was loved by so many, but especially by her two grandchildren, Sam and Charlie. Thank you all for your support, prayers and privacy at this difficult time for me and my family. Love you Mom."
Tiger Woods injury update
Woods said in December at the Hero World Challenge — a tournament he hosts in the Bahamas — that he was not physically ready and "not sharp enough" yet to compete against the best golfers on the PGA Tour following another back surgery last September. Woods hasn't played in a full-fledged, professional golf tournament since The Open Championship last July, when he missed the cut.
Woods subsequently underwent microdecompression surgery on his lumbar spine to relieve nerve impingement in his lower back, aiming to reduce the pain and spasms he experienced.
"I don't want to have any setbacks. Just want to keep making progress and give myself the best chance going to next year as possible," Woods said in December. "I feel like I'm getting stronger, I'm getting more pliable, but I got a long way to go to be able to compete against these guys."
Woods has since played at the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie Woods, in December. The pair finished in second place and golf experts and observers took note of how comfortable Woods' swing looked on the course, albeit during an exhibition event in which participants are allowed to use carts, unlike on the PGA Champions Tour.
Woods has also played two matches with his Jupiter Links GC team in the TGL, the virtual golf league he co-founded along with a group of investors that includes Rory McIlroy.
Tiger Woods 2025 schedule: When will he play next?
A year ago, Woods said he aimed to play in one tournament per month. In December, he wasn't able to commit to any sort of timeline or expectations. Woods only played in five PGA Tour events last season. He withdrew from the Genesis Invitational that he also hosts due to an illness and participated in the four majors. He only made the cut at The Masters, finishing in 60th place.
It's uncertain when his 2025 PGA Tour debut will be. The 2025 Genesis Invitational is scheduled to take place next week after being moved from Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles to Torrey Pines in San Diego due to the wildfires that killed at least 29 people and damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of structures and buildings in Southern California.
“I think it's important that we were able to stay in Southern California because everyone who was born and raised out in Southern Cal can all relate to the fires,” Woods said. “It's a difficult situation, and we want to be very sensitive to that. I think because we're in Southern California ... we're going to be able to raise more money for all the losses that have incurred.”
Woods has yet to commit to play in his event (or any other PGA Tour event) for 2025. He is, however, next scheduled to play with Jupiter Links GC in the TGL when they face New York Golf Club on Feb. 18. The match will be broadcast on ESPN and streamed via ESPN+.
2025 WM Phoenix Open: TV, streaming, how to watch PGA Tour event
The sixth tournament on the PGA Tour's 2025 schedule will be carried live by Golf Channel all four days. CBS will then pick up live coverage of the third and final rounds.
There is streaming on ESPN+ and Paramount+ as well as the NBC sports app and CBS sports app. The 2025 WM Open can also be streamed via Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Watch WM Phoenix Open with Fubo (free trial)
Thursday, Feb. 6
First round
- 9:15 a.m.-7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
- 4-8 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
- 4-8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports app
Friday, Feb. 7
Second round
- 9:15 a.m.-7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
- 4-8 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
- 4-8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports app
Saturday, Feb. 8
Third round
- 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
- 1-3 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
- 1-3 p.m. ET, NBC Sports app
- 3-6:30 p.m. ET, CBS
- 3-6:30 p.m. ET, Paramount+, CBS Sports app
Sunday, Feb. 9
Final round
- 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. ET, ESPN+
- 1-3 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
- 1-3 p.m. ET, NBC Sports app
- 3-6 p.m. ET, CBS
- 3-6 p.m. ET, Paramount+, CBS Sports app
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