PONTE VEDRA BEACH — Tiger Woods has been eligible for The Players Championship since his first time playing the event in 1997.
Until now.
Woods’ exemption into The Players from winning the 2019 Masters expired this year — he was granted an extra year because of COVID — and he has not met other qualifications because of his inactivity in recent years due to multiple injuries.
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Even the “Tiger Rule,” created specifically for the 50-year-old Woods that allows for a lifetime sponsor exemption for anyone with more than 80 Tour wins and gets him into all Signature Events does not apply to The Players.
That was news to Tommy Fleetwood, who did not know Woods is not eligible for The Players.
“That’s unbelievable. I can’t believe he’s not eligible. How bad is Tiger Woods at golf?” he asked, tongue firmly planted in cheek.
The Players does not give out sponsor exemptions. Would it if Tiger called? Hard to see anyone saying no to the 15-time major champion.
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Especially his peers.
“I’m always going to be for him playing,” Jupiter’s Justin Thomas said. “I think for the betterment of golf and the tournament, I don’t think there’s anybody that would be against it. I guess unless somebody that isn’t qualified, I’m sure they would like to play, too.”
Said a more serious Fleetwood: “If Tiger Woods wants to play anywhere in the world I think, yeah, I think Tiger Woods should be able to play.”
Will Tiger Woods play for Jupiter Links in TGL playoffs?
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 22: Tiger Woods of the United States looks on from the 18th green during the final round of The Genesis Invitational 2026 at Riviera Country Club on February 22, 2026 in Pacific Palisades, California.
Of course, Woods has no such dilemma when it comes to TGL, especially when you are one of the co-founders.
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Woods, who lives on Jupiter Island, has not played this season for his Jupiter Links team following disc replacement surgery Oct. 10. He has attended every Jupiter match at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens.
Unlike TGL’s inaugural year, Jupiter advanced to the playoffs and faces Boston Common on March 17. Rory McIlroy, Woods’ partner as a TGL co-founder, plays for Boston but his availability is unknown after withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a back injury the morning of the March 7 final round.
Woods has hinted about his return to TGL and the Tour in recent weeks and was asked about it after Jupiter’s final regular-season match.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
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When asked if that meant playing, he said: “Well, I’ll be here either way.”
When told by teammate Kevin Kisner that he “dodged” that question, Woods said: “Bob and weave, bob and weave.”
Woods was hoping to join his team for at least one match at the end of the TGL season.
He last played in the 2024 PNC Championship in Orlando. He and son, Charlie, lost in a playoff to Bernhard and Jason Langer. Wood’s last PGA Tour event was the 2024 British Open.
The winner of the Jupiter-Boston TGL semifinal faces the winner of the Atlanta Drive-Los Angeles Golf Club semifinal in the best-of-3 finals that starts March 23.
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Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: What is Tiger Woods’ status for TGL playoffs with The Players out?
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