Tiger Woods on the CBS broadcast of The Genesis Invitational Photo Credit: CBS
CBSGolfBy Reice Shipley on

Fans watching The Genesis Invitational didn’t get the chance to see Tiger Woods tee it up at the event he has hosted for years. But those tuning into the final round of action Sunday did get a chance to hear Tiger in the CBS broadcast booth alongside Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman.

Though Woods has been featured extensively in his company’s new indoor golf league, the TGL, in partnership with the PGA Tour, Woods hasn’t actually competed in a PGA Tour event since the 2024 Open Championship last July.

That was set to change this week, as he had initially announced that he would be competing in The Genesis Invitational. Unfortunately, those plans changed following the death of his mother, Kultida Woods, earlier this month.

That was still at the forefront of Woods’ mind in the CBS broadcast booth, calling the past few weeks a “tough process to go through” and saying his late mother was a “rock” for him throughout his illustrious career.

“Yeah, it has been a tough process to go through. But I have had amazing family support. All of the players have reached out that were playing here this week. The amount of texts, emails, and nice messages of support I got has really helped and it really meant a lot to me. Mom was my rock, you know. My Dad worked at McDonald Douglas at that time working on the Delta rocket. And Mom would take me to every junior event here in Southern California.

“Whether it is nine holes out in Riverside and San Bernardino. She would drive out there and keep score, walk every hole. How many putts I hit, how many fairways I hit, how many greens I hit, she tracked it all. All of those days led us to this point. She was hard on me about school. About getting good grades and doing well in school. If I didn’t get any homework done, I didn’t get to play. It was important that I got good grades and school came before any sport I was playing. She meant everything to me and losing her has been a very hard and difficult process to go through.”

Despite Woods still grieving his mother’s passing, he did stick around and provide some great analysis alongside Nantz and Immelman near the end of the round, helping viewers at home read a putt from Scottie Scheffler on the 18th hole.

Woods later spoke about his relationship with a player he has closely mentored in the latter half of his career, Justin Thomas, who he detailed is “like a little brother” to him.

Even once Woods stepped away from the broadcast booth, he remained a prominent part of the remainder of the CBS broadcast. After Justin Thomas finished his round, Woods greeted both him and his newly born daughter, who he met for the first time.

Jim Nantz later delivered a tribute of sorts to Tiger in his calls of Ludvig Aberg’s birdie putt on the 18th hole to secure the win at The Genesis Invitational.

“Oh yes,” said Nantz. “Ludvig Åberg takes Tiger’s tournament!”

Åberg then walked out with Woods to the 18th green to take part in the trophy ceremony.

Woods remains the biggest figure in golf despite his inability to compete consistently. Having him in the CBS broadcast booth is always a welcome sight, even if many golf fans were hoping to see him competing instead.

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.

View all posts by Reice Shipley