No Tiger Woods at the Hero World Challenge

MIAMI, FL — Tiger Woods will not play next week’s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas after the 15-time major winner underwent back surgery in September.

Woods said Americans Justin Thomas and Nick Dunlap and Australian Jason Day were the final entrants into the 20-player tournament, which will be held Dec. 5-8 at Albany Golf Course.

“I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to compete in this year’s Hero World Challenge, but I always look forward to hosting the tournament and spending a week with @HeroMotoCorp,” Woods wrote on X.

Tiger Woods PHOTO EPA

Woods, a five-time World Challenge winner, hosts the annual event but has only played once in the past three years due to health problems.

In September he underwent the sixth back surgery of his career in hopes of easing the spasms and back pain he felt during his 2024 starts, the latest of which was at the British Open in July at Royal Troon.

Woods, whose 82 PGA Tour wins match Sam Snead’s record, has made just 10 official starts since a car accident in 2021 that left him with serious leg injuries.

The current champion is #1 ranked Scotty Scheffler.

It will be a first for the 20-year-old Dunlap, who became the first amateur in 33 years to win a PGA Tour event when he captured the American Express title in January.

Dunlap then joined the PGA Tour and won his second title last July at the Barracuda Championship, becoming the first PGA player to win both as a professional and an amateur in the same season.