Tiger Woods missed the iconic Champions dinner at Augusta on Tuesday night as he continues his recovery from the Achilles tear that has plunged his career into fresh doubt.
Organziers shared this year’s picture of the Augusta winners at the 2025 gathering, hosted by last year’s champion Scottie Scheffler. But the absence of Woods was the most striking aspect, especially given how fans were desperate for a sighting of the 49-year-old after his latest injury setback.
It is the second time he has missed the event – the first was in 2021 when it was held two months after the serious car accident where he could have lost his leg.
Woods announced in early March that he had surgery to repair an Achilles rupture after hurting himself practicing at home.
The 49-year-old 15-time Major winner gave no timeline on when he expects to be compete again.
But days after the announcement, Daily Mail exclusively revealed that the golfing great was dating Vanessa Trump – the ex-wife of President Trump’s son Donald Jr.
The 2025 Masters Champions dinner was notable for the absence of Tiger Woods
Woods, pictured with girlfriend Vanessa Trump, stayed away a month after his Achilles tear
Woods then took to social media to confirm the news, sharing two pictures of himself with Vanessa and captioning the post: ‘Love is in the air and life is better with you by my side!
‘We look forward to our journey through life together. At this time we would appraciate privacy for those close to our hearts.’
President Trump also revealed that Woods, who played a round of golf with in February before he went to the Super Bowl in New Orleans, told him that he had was dating Vanessa.
‘He told me about it, and I said, ‘Tiger, that’s good, that’s good.’ I’m very happy for you both. Just let them both be happy. Let them both be happy. They’re both great,” Trump told reporters from the Oval Office earlier this month.
Four days before Woods met with Trump for a round, the golfer anounced the heartbreaking death of his mother, Kulitida, at the age of 80.
It prompted Woods to withdraw from the Genesis Invitational the following week, explaining that he wasn’t mentally ready for the event.
As for the dinner itself on Tuesday, two-time Masters champion Scheffler and his wife Meredith welcomed his guests with a Texas-themed menu.
The attendees had the choice of three appetizers. Cheeseburger sliders, served ‘Scottie-style’, will be between the top bun and slice of cheese.
Host Scottie Scheffler pictured alongside Bubba Watson at the dinner on Tuesday evening
Scheffler pictured making his anticipated arrival alongside his wife Meredith at Augusta
Players past and present pictured mingling early in the evening of a Masters tradition
If red meat was not desired, firecracker shrimp was another appetizer option, with sweet Thai chili and Sriracha mayonnaise dipping sauces. The final offering was the ‘Papa Scheff’s’ meatball and ravioli bites, served with pecorino cheese and a tomato basil sauce.
The bites are a humorous nod to his injury from Christmas Day – which caused him to miss a few events to start this season – when he cut himself with a wine glass while attempting to make homemade ravioli.
A Texas-style chilli will then be served for the first course, followed by a choice of Wood-Fired Cowboy Ribeye or Blackened Redfish.
A warm chocolate chip skillet cookie for dessert rounds the menu off – ironically, dessert is the only vegetarian option on the menu.
For Scheffler, his duties as host might have been a welcome distraction after admitting earlier in the day that his practice rounds had been blighted by the high pollen count at Augusta National.
‘This rain and pollen out here… I get out of my car in the morning, my eyes start watering. It’s a little bit worse than normal years. But I feel good, ready to roll,’ he said.
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