Tiger Woods will not be participating in the upcoming Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas as he continues to recover from his recent sixth back surgery performed in September.
In a social media announcement made on Monday, Woods informed fans that Justin Thomas, Nick Dunlap, and Jason Day would be joining the 20-player lineup for the holiday tournament.
The defending champion is Scottie Scheffler.

Woods had hinted at the likelihood of not competing in the Bahamas following his disclosure on September 13 about undergoing another procedure on his lower back, marking his sixth surgery in a decade. He expressed hope that this latest surgery would alleviate some of the muscle spasms he had been experiencing throughout the year. The procedure, identified as microdecompression surgery for nerve impingement, typically requires a recovery period of around eight to 12 weeks.
Although disappointed about missing the event, Woods looked forward to fulfilling his responsibilities as the tournament host.
Last year, he finished in 18th place among the 20 competitors.

Justin Thomas, a two-time PGA champion, recently celebrated a personal milestone with the birth of his first child, a daughter named Molly Grace. Since the Tour Championship, Thomas has competed only once.
Making his debut in this unofficial tournament—where players can earn world ranking points but not official prize money— is Nick Dunlap, who recently turned professional after winning a PGA Tour event as an amateur. He joins Woods in an exclusive group of players who have won both the U.S. Junior Amateur and the U.S. Amateur events.

Looking ahead, Woods is more likely to compete in the PNC Challenge scheduled for December 14-15 in Orlando, Florida. This 36-hole event allows him to participate alongside his son, Charlie, and since it is sanctioned by the PGA Tour Champions, Woods is permitted to ride in a cart during the competition.
Last year at the Hero World Challenge, Woods expressed ambitions to participate in major tournaments each month of the year. However, his plans fell short when he withdrew after just one round at the Riviera and did not play again for almost two months, ultimately completing only 11 rounds in the year.
He did make a notable achievement by earning a record for the Masters with his 24th consecutive cut made before facing missed cuts in the other three major tournaments of the year.