Tiger Woods’ absence from Augusta National was felt Tuesday evening as past Masters victors gathered to celebrate 2024 winner Scottie Scheffler at the annual Champions Dinner.
Woods, a five-time Masters winner, did not attend the famed dinner as he continues to recover from an Achilles injury sustained last month.
“We were putting our jackets away and the guys said that Tiger still can’t put weight on his foot,” said Charles Coody, the 1971 Masters winner, according to Golfweek. “They said his weight tolerance just isn’t there to climb up those stairs.”
Vijay Singh, who withdrew from the Masters due to injury, skipped Tuesday’s dinner on the second floor of the clubhouse, along with Sandy Lyle, who cited “personal reasons,” per Golfweek.
Tiger Woods, a five-time Masters champion, missed the 2025 Champions Dinner. Getty Images
Woods, 49, revealed in March he ruptured his left Achilles tendon while training at home and underwent surgery.
“As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured,” the 15-time major champion said in a social media statement.
“This morning, Dr. Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida performed a minimally-invasive Achilles tendon repair for a ruptured tendon.”
Tiger Woods last won the Masters in 2019. REUTERS
The 15-time major winner is recouping after sustaining an Achilles injury earlier this year. GREG LOVETT/PALM BEACH POST / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Woods last competed in a tournament over the summer at the 2024 British Open.
His last Masters win was in 2019.
Through a challenging 2025, which also saw the loss of his mother, Kultida, Woods has leaned on girlfriend Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of President Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.
Tiger Woods confirmed his relationship with Vanessa Trump in March 2025. Twitter/tigerwoods
Woods confirmed his romance with Vanessa, 47, in late March.
Tuesday’s dinner featured a curated menu from Scheffler, 28, now vying for back-to-back Masters titles.
The evening, which was described as “quieter than normal” by 1973 Masters champion Tommy Aaron, also featured the return of embattled victor Angel Cabrera, who served 30 months behind bars for assaults against his former partners. He was released in 2023.
The first round of the 2025 Masters begins Thursday.
