President Donald Trump has declared that Tiger Woods will miss next month's Masters tournament at Augusta, Georgia, though the 79-year-old declined to disclose how he obtained this information.
Speaking to Fox News programme The Five on Thursday, Trump stated: "I love Tiger, but he won't be there. He'll be there, but he won't be playing in it."
The claim carries an intriguing personal dimension, given that the 15-time major champion is currently in a relationship with Vanessa Trump, the former wife of the president's eldest son, Donald Jr.
Woods himself has not confirmed whether he will compete at the prestigious event.
The five-time Masters winner has indicated he remains hopeful of competing, stating he is "trying" to participate despite ongoing physical challenges.
"I've been trying. It's just this body doesn't recover like when I was 24, 25," Woods explained.
"It doesn't mean I'm not trying - I've been trying for a while."
President Donald Trump has declared that Tiger Woods will miss next month's Masters tournament at Augusta, Georgia, though the 79-year-old declined to disclose how he obtained this information
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The 50-year-old revealed he has battled multiple back injuries over the past year, which have required considerable recovery time.
Woods expressed his deep affection for the tournament, noting he has cherished competing at Augusta since the age of 19.
"I'm going to be there either way," he confirmed, committing to attend the Champions Dinner regardless of his playing status.
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Tiger Woods announced his relationship with Vanessa Trump in March last year
| InstagramWoods made his long-awaited return to competitive golf on Tuesday evening, though the outing proved difficult for the legendary player.
His Jupiter Links GC team suffered defeat in the finals of TGL's second season, with Woods acknowledging he "got his ass kicked" during the match.
Vanessa Trump and her daughter Kai were present to support him at the event.
Regarding the timing of his Masters decision, Woods remained uncertain about when he would reach a conclusion.
"I don't know, we'll see how it goes," he said. "I'll be practicing playing at home this week and keep trying to make progress."
Woods first conquered Augusta National in 1997, delivering a historic performance that changed golf forever.
Tiger Woods has won the Masters five times | GETTYAt just 21 years old, he claimed a 12-stroke victory, setting a record-breaking total of 270.
He donned the Green Jacket again in 2001 and 2002, becoming only the third player to successfully defend a Masters title.
His 2005 triumph was defined by an unforgettable chip-in on the 16th hole, leading to a fourth victory.
After years of injury and personal struggle, Woods completed a fairytale comeback in 2019 to claim his fifth title. Today, he holds the record for 24 consecutive cuts made.