Tiger Woods made his 2026 TGL debut in the finals on Tuesday, March 24, with the full support of his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump.
Woods, 50, and Team Jupiter Links and went head-to-head with the Los Angeles Golf Club, owned by Reddit founder, Alexis Ohanian, his wife, Serena Williams, and her sister, Venus Williams.
Before he teed off, Woods and Trump shared a sweet moment together at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Despite one of the most anticipated comebacks for Woods, LAGC dominated the final match 9-2, securing the victory over Woods’ team.
“We got our ass kicked at the end,” Woods said after the game, according to ESPN. “Three eagles in a row. … I missed a short one to give them momentum, and we never got it back.”
Tiger Woods Has Been Sidelined With Injuries
Woods underwent lumbar disc replacement surgery in October 2025, seven months after suffering a completely separate injury (he ruptured his achilles in March). He’s been noticeably absent from the game, taking time to rehab his back, though he’s been anxious to get back out on the course.
“It has been challenging,” the golf legend said last month, according to ESPN. “My body has been through a lot. Each and every day I keep trying, I keep progressing, trying to get it to a level that I can play at the highest level.”
Woods explained that his back has been “sore” and that his rehabilitation has been taking a bit longer than anticipated.
Despite a rough return on Tuesday, Woods isn’t closing the door to other 2026 tournaments, including the Masters, which take place April 9 through 12.
“I want to play. I love the tournament,” Woods said after his TGL round. “I’m going to be there either way with The Loop that’s going up there, as well as the Champions Dinner. … We’ll see how it goes. I’ll be practicing, playing at home this week and keep trying to make progress.”
Tiger Woods & Vanessa Trump Took Their Relationship Public in March 2025
One person who has remained by Woods’ side throughout his recovery is Trump, whom he’s been dating for more than a year.
After rumors that the two were an item started circulating in early 2025, the couple took to Instagram to share a joint post about their romance.
“Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side! We look forward to our journey through life together. At this time we would appreciate privacy for all those close to our hearts,” the post’s captioned read.
Neither Woods nor Trump post much about their relationship, but they appear to be going strong. Whatever Woods does next, it seems obvious that Trump will be there to support him along the way.
Tiger Woods Kisses Girlfriend Vanessa Trump Before His 2026 TGL Debut