Tournament host Tiger Woods was notably absent from the initial player field released on Monday for the Hero World Challenge, scheduled for December 3-6 in Albany, Bahamas. However, there remains a possibility for his inclusion as one of the three exemption spots.

The 15-time major champion has not participated in an official event since The Open at Royal Troon in July 2024, where he unfortunately missed the cut. Speculation about his return intensified when Woods hinted at the prospect of playing at the Masters in 2026.

Woods' situation has been complicated by legal issues; he was arrested on March 27 following a vehicle crash on Jupiter Island, Florida. Last month, he accepted a five-year suspension of his driver's license after reaching an agreement with prosecutors regarding his impaired-driving case. As of now, there is no confirmation on when he might return to competitive golf.

Among those officially committed to the Hero World Challenge are World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Hideki Matsuyama. Both players are part of a 20-man field and are looking to make history as the first three-time winner at Albany, having previously secured back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.

In total, seven of the top 10 players in the world, including Cameron Young, Matt Fitzpatrick, Russell Henley, Chris Gotterup, Sam Burns, and Xander Schauffele, have confirmed their participation. The remaining players in the field will be announced at a later date.