Tiger Woods Returns as LA Wins TGL SoFi Cup Final

Tiger Woods made his much-anticipated return to competitive golf after more than a year, but his comeback wasn’t enough to stop Los Angeles Golf Club from securing a commanding victory in the TGL final.

Los Angeles Golf Club delivered a stunning performance, closing the match with three consecutive eagles to defeat Jupiter Links 9-2 and lift the SoFi Cup on Tuesday night.

Woods, who had been recovering from back surgery and previously served as a captain figure for Jupiter Links, stepped back into action by replacing Kevin Kisner. His return generated excitement, but the match quickly turned in LA’s favor.

A crucial turning point came on the seventh hole when Woods missed a short 3-foot putt. The miss shifted momentum toward LA, who capitalized immediately. The 15-hole contest ended early in just 10 holes due to LA’s dominant run.

Reflecting on the loss, Woods admitted, “We got our (butts) kicked at the end. Three eagles in a row… I missed a short one, and we never got the momentum back.”

Despite the defeat, Woods showed glimpses of form early in the match, including a strong 3-wood shot from 279 yards that set up a birdie. Jupiter Links briefly led 2-0, but failed to maintain control.

Standout performances from LA players, including Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, and Sahith Theegala, proved decisive. Their clutch eagle putts and aggressive strategy, including well-timed “hammer” plays, sealed the outcome.

Max Homa later admitted a tactical error during a key moment, calling it a “really dumb move” that hurt Jupiter’s chances of extending the match.

The victory earned Los Angeles Golf Club a prize of $9 million, while Jupiter Links settled for $4.5 million.

For Woods, however, the focus remains on recovery and a potential return to top-level golf. He has not confirmed whether he will participate in the upcoming The Masters Tournament scheduled for April.

Speaking about his fitness, Woods said, “This body doesn’t recover like it used to, but I’m still trying. I’ll keep practicing and see how it goes.”

While questions remain about his future—including a possible role as Ryder Cup captain—Woods emphasized his happiness at simply being back on the course.

“It felt great to be back… I just wish it was under better circumstances,” he added.