Tiger Woods putts on the 13th green during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in 2019. Tiger Woods will partner with Augusta National Golf Club and The Masters Tournament to bring “affordable golf and educational programming” to Augusta.
Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, provided details of the agreement with the five-time Masters champion on Monday as tournament week kicked off with heavy rain that delayed most of the day’s festivities.
TGR Foundation, a nonprofit directed by Woods, revealed plans to construct a new TGR Learning Lab in Augusta, Ga., to become the fourth training center opened by Woods. His course architecture firm, TGR Design, will also design the new, nine-hole short course as part of the renovation of the Augusta Municipal Golf Course, commonly known as “The Patch.”
“Today’s announcements mark an important milestone for Augusta and deepen the connection our community has with one of our greatest Masters champions, Tiger Woods,” said Ridley. “We are thankful to partner with the TGR Foundation and jointly invest in the Augusta community. This partnership, in the TGR Learning Lab, reflects our shared interest in increasing access to high-quality programming and impacting the next generation in a tangible way.
Ridley said the agreement is part of a “commitment to create an affordable and inviting golf experience … creating opportunities to learn and fall in love with the game as well as developing a pipeline for employment in the golf industry.”
“Partnering with Augusta National Golf Club to serve its surrounding community is truly special,” said Woods. “My passion for education and golf dates back a long time, as does my relationship with Augusta National and the city of Augusta. This is a transformational opportunity to empower the next generation and deliver meaningful educational programming and access to fun and affordable golf. I am excited to work alongside Augusta National and see both projects become a reality.”
Woods is not playing in The Masters because of his health. It’s the first time he has missed a start in the tournament since a car accident wiped out his entire 2022 season. Woods announced on March 11 he had surgery on his ruptured left Achilles tendon. Recovery to complete mobility from the injury can take 6-12 months.
With the exception of a tournament with his son, Charlie, and TGL events, the 49-year-old Woods has not played competitive golf since the 2024 Open Championship last July.
–Field Level Media
