Tiger Woods commits to Genesis Invitational: 15-time major winner returns to PGA Tour action at Riviera

Tiger Woods is officially in the field for next week’s 2024 Genesis Invitational, a tournament he hosts annually, the 15-time major winner announced on Wednesday. Woods’ appearance will mark the first time since the 2023 Masters that the 48-year-old has competed on the PGA Tour. Woods was forced to withdraw from the third round at Augusta National due to an ankle injury, but the newly fused joint looked strong during his growing winter schedule.

Woods added the Hero World Challenge to his sporting calendar in early December and showed signs of improvement in both his game and physical health with rounds of 75–70–71–72. A fresh Woods went the distance of 72 holes in competition for the first time since the 2023 Genesis Invitational and went from strength to strength as the week progressed. He also hinted at what his 2024 program might look like with the starting point at Riviera.

“The best scenario would probably be a tournament in a month,” Woods said at the Hero World Challenge. “Whether that’s realistic – you’d probably have to start at the origins [Invitational] And something at The Players in March. Again, we just set the biggest events to one per month. It prepares itself for that. Now, I need to prepare myself for all this.”

Woods played with his son Charlie at the PNC Championship a few weeks later. The Woods family once again finished inside the top 10 in the 36-hole event and signs of Woods’ improvement continued.

While Riviera is near and dear to Woods’ heart, the California gem has yet to produce a trophy for Woods. In 15 prior appearances at the Genesis Invitational, the tournament host has failed to enter the winner’s circle, his best effort coming in 1998 when he lost in a playoff to Billy Mayfair at Valencia Country Club. Woods finished T45 in last year’s tournament, breaking a seven-month hiatus from competition.

The Genesis Invitational will be the third signature event of the 2024 PGA Tour season and is a player-hosted invitational event. Each of the three Players-hosted Invitationals – Genesis, Arnold Palmer and Memorial – has the exemption to host the tournament and feature a 36-hole cut involving the top 50 as well as a tie for any player within 10 shots of the lead. There is facility to do so.

Form won’t be the only topic of intrigue when it comes to Woods at Riviera. No longer sponsored by Nike for the first time in 27 years, Woods’ clothing decision With the imminent announcement, his game will generate just as much interest.