USGA CEO Mike Whan told Sports Illustrated, “I’d be super surprised (about Woods’ return to Shinnecock). It would be wonderful for the event, and if he was ready, it would be wonderful for him. Obviously what he’s going through is much bigger than golf. He’s proven before that when he puts his mind to something, he’s going to be great at it. I don’t think he’s going to play in any 2026 USGA championship. If he ends up playing in USGA championships, great. But when I think of Tiger, my friend, that’s not really what’s important to me right now.”
Whan has always been an admirer of Woods and his contribution to the sport. Under his leadership, the USGA also introduced the Tiger Woods Medal that will be awarded to U.S. Amateur champions from 2026 onwards.
So it’s no surprise that the USGA CEO is keeping tabs on the Big Cat. Especially since he would have hoped Woods would be a part of two huge USGA events in the upcoming months. But to his and the golf community’s disappointment, the 15-time major winner might not appear in either of them.
That said, when will the 82-time PGA Tour Champion return to the course then?
Realistic date of Tiger Woods’ possible return to the golf course
Tiger Woods’ car rolled over in Jupiter at the end of March 2026. Mere days before the Masters Tournament, the Big Cat had essentially pushed himself out of the picture from any professional golf event. Considering that he has gone into rehabilitation, it might take some time for him to come back.
As per USGA CEO Mike Whan, the 2026 U.S. Open and the U.S. Senior Open are out of the picture. It’s understandable as they are scheduled within three months of the scandal. Considering the minimum timeline of rehabilitation, that wouldn’t give Woods enough time to come back to the course.
The same goes for the Open Championship. The last major of the year will be played at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in the middle of July 2026. That might not be enough time for Woods to complete his rehabilitation and make a comeback.
He might be able to return in about six months after the incident. So fans can expect to see him come back after October. Considering his last few appearances in the PGA Tour, Woods might be seen playing in the 2026 PNC Championship and the Hero World Challenge in December.
