The field has been announced for the 2024 World Hero Challenge and it looks like Tiger Woods will have to make another last-minute decision.
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For the third year in a row, Tiger Woods could be a game-time decision for his Hero World Challenge.
The star-studded field for Woods’ event in the Bahamas was released on Wednesday, with 17 of the 20 spots filled by some of golf’s biggest names.
The dedicated players are all currently ranked in the top 26 in the Official World Golf Ranking and the list includes top-15 players ranked world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Ludvig Aberg, Wyndham Clark, Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Cantlay, Keegan Bradley, Sahith Theegala and Russell Henley.
Rounding out the field are Robert MacIntyre, Sam Burns, Brian Harman, Sungjae Im, Tony Finau, Tom Kim, Aaron Rai, Billy Horschel and Matthieu Pavon.
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Notably, there are three “tournament exemption TBA” spots yet to be filled, and in recent years one of them has been used by the host’s 15-time major winner.
Two years ago, Woods held that spot open in hopes of being able to play after his car accident in February 2021 (Woods committed to playing, but plantar fasciitis eventually led to his withdrawal in the week of the tournament). Last year, Woods was a late addition to the field after subtalar fusion surgery to stabilize an ankle damaged in the aforementioned crash (he finished 18th of 20).
The same last-minute decision could be made this year after Woods’ the latest procedure. On September 13, Woods’ team released a statement that he underwent “successful microdecompression surgery of the lumbar spine for nerve impingement in the lower back.”
“The surgery went well and I hope this will help alleviate the back spasms and pain I have been experiencing for most of the 2024 season,” Woods said in the statement. “I look forward to tackling this rehabilitation and preparing to return to normal life activities, including golf.”
Wednesday’s press release did not provide an update on Woods’ health, and he has not previously mentioned when he intends to return. (Woods’ camp did not immediately respond to GOLF.com’s request for comment.)
While the exact details of Woods’ surgery are unclear, this type of surgery is less invasive than some of the other procedures he’s had. Typical recovery time to resume full-time activities can be as long as seven weeks or possibly as long as 12. The hero is three months after surgery.
In addition to the Hero, which is Dec. 5-8 at Albany Resort in the Bahamas, Woods has also played the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie, the past four years in mid-December.
Woods competed in five tournaments in 2024, withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational (where he also hosts the tournament) due to illness and lacks cutting in three of the four directions. He made the cut at the Masters, but shot 82-77 over the weekend for it finish 60th.
