On April 10, 2025, The Masters 2025 kicked off at Augusta Golf Course, Georgia, but once again, golf legend Tiger Woods was absent from the course. However, his appearance as a guest, along with his new girlfriend Vanessa Trump, attracted great attention from the media and fans. What made “Super Tiger” unable to compete, and what role did his relationship with Vanessa Trump play in this decision?

Tiger Woods, the 15-time major champion, has officially confirmed that he will not participate in The Masters 2025 due to a serious injury. In early March 2025, Woods announced that he had ruptured his left Achilles tendon while practicing at home in Florida. The surgery was performed shortly after by Dr. Charlton Stucken at Hospital for Surgical Specialties in West Palm Beach. According to medical experts, the Achilles tendon recovery process could take four to six months, causing Woods to miss not only The Masters but also the entire major season this year.

At 49, Woods’ body has suffered a lot through a series of surgeries from his knees, back, to his ankle. This latest injury is a heavy blow, especially since he just underwent his sixth back surgery last September. Although Dr. Stucken is optimistic about his ability to recover completely, fans cannot help but worry about whether Woods can return to the top again.

In addition to health issues, some sources say that Woods is also taking time to focus on his personal life. He recently suffered a great loss when his mother, Kultida Woods, passed away earlier this year. Woods once shared: “My mother is a force of nature. She is my biggest supporter. Without her, I wouldn’t have achieved anything.” The passing of his mother may have affected his mental state, causing him to need time to stabilize before returning to the field.

In the context of health and mental difficulties, the new relationship with Vanessa Trump, the ex-daughter-in-law of former US President Donald Trump, seems to be a great source of encouragement for Woods. The couple officially announced their relationship on March 23, 2025 via social network X, with affectionate photos and the caption: “Love is spreading and life is more beautiful with you by my side!”. Woods also expressed his desire to keep his loved ones private, although this public act has many people questioning the consistency.

Vanessa Trump, who was married to Donald Trump Jr. from 2005 to 2018, has been a private person after the divorce. However, she and Woods found common ground through their passion for golf and their devotion to their children. Vanessa’s daughter, Kai, and Woods’ son, Charlie, are both pursuing junior golf careers and often compete together in tournaments. “Their kids are going great in golf and they’re both very disciplined in the sport,” a source close to the couple told People. “They have that in common.” It was their frequent meetings at their children’s golf events that brought them together, leading to a romance.

The relationship also received support from former President Donald Trump. In a statement in Washington, Trump shared: “I’m so happy for them. Just let them be happy. They’re both great.” The public support from a powerful figure like Trump only added to the attention the couple received.

Although he cannot compete, Woods’ appearance at The Masters 2025 as a guest shows that he still wants to maintain his connection with the tournament where he made history. Woods is an icon of Augusta, with 5 championships and his 1997 victory was considered a revolution in golf. However, since the 2019 Masters championship, his form has not been the same as before. In the last 4 seasons, Woods has only completed 4 full rounds of a PGA Tour event exactly 3 times.

The relationship with Vanessa Trump not only brings personal happiness but can also be the motivation for Woods to continue fighting the challenges in his career. Although the road back to the top is still arduous, fans always believe in the ability to create miracles of “Super Tiger”. Can Woods once again overcome adversity to continue writing his legendary story? Only time will tell.