Tommy Fleetwood can’t believe Tiger Woods is now inelgible to compete at The Players Championship.

Tommy Fleetwood was left stunned after discovering Tiger Woods is ineligible to play in this week’s The Players Championship — despite the American being a 15-time major champion and joint record 82-time winner on the PGA Tour.

Fleetwood only learned of the surprising rule during his pre-tournament press conference at TPC Sawgrass, when a reporter pointed out that Woods would not be eligible for the PGA Tour’s flagship event even if he were fully fit to compete this week.

“Is Tiger not eligible for this event?” Fleetwood asked in disbelief.

“That’s unbelievable.”

The revelation marks the first time Woods, now 50, has been ineligible for The Players. The former World No.1 has enjoyed considerable success at TPC Sawgrass, winning the tournament twice — in 2001 and again in 2013.

Woods’ exemption into the tournament expired this year. His five-year exemption from winning The Masters in 2019 has now run out when it comes to eligibility for The Players, meaning he must qualify through other categories such as world ranking or recent results on the PGA Tour.

Currently ranked 3,143rd in the world, Woods has not played a competitive Tour event since missing the cut at The Open Championship at Royal Troon in July 2024. Woods remains sidelined while recovering from the seventh back surgery of his career, which he underwent in October 2025.

Despite that, Woods has recently been ramping up practice and is hoping to be fit enough to compete at Augusta next month. Speaking during a television appearance at his Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club more than two weeks ago, Woods admitted playing The Masters at Augusta National from 9–12 April is “not off the table”. Tiger Woods

Back at Sawgrass, Fleetwood made it clear he would welcome Woods into the field with open arms if it were up to him.

“I would say yeah. I would love Tiger Woods to play,” Fleetwood said.

“I can’t believe he’s not eligible. How bad is Tiger Woods at golf?”

The Englishman quickly clarified he was joking before reiterating his surprise at the eligibility rules.

“No, no — I am actually very surprised. I didn’t realise,” Fleetwood added.

“I wasn’t really sure what criteria goes into this tournament, but if Tiger Woods wants to play anywhere in the world, I think Tiger Woods should be able to play.”

Fleetwood arrives at The Players as the reigning FedEx Cup champion after capturing his maiden PGA Tour title at the Tour Championship in August 2025.

However, the World No.3 has endured a mixed start to the 2026 season. Across events on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour he has recorded two top-10 finishes along with results of 25th, 41st and 49th.

His most recent outing came at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, where he finished near the bottom of those who made the cut after rounds of 76, 76, 69 and 73.

Fleetwood will be hoping to rediscover his form at TPC Sawgrass and kick-start his season.

One notable detail this week is that Fleetwood is still competing without an apparel sponsor.

He was seen on Monday wearing a Players Championship cap — one handed to him by his son — as he prepares to tee it up in the PGA Tour’s biggest regular-season event.

Fleetwood joins World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas for the first two rounds at TPC Sawgrass.