The Masters announces Tiger Woods set to design Augusta golf course

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Tiger Woods will leave his permanent mark on Augusta, deepening his legacy with the Masters Tournament.

On Monday afternoon, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley announced that the five-time Masters champion will design a golf course at the nearby Augusta Municipal Golf Course, known to locals as The Patch.

“Today’s announcements mark an important milestone for Augusta and deepen the connection our community has with one of our greatest Masters champions, Tiger Woods,” Ridley said.

The idea was borne this time last year.

“I happened to be playing golf with Tiger about a year ago, a couple weeks before the Masters, and I thought I would mention The Patch Project, which I think we were formally announcing that week at the tournament. It was clear when I shared the concept that it sort of piqued his interest, and that was sort of the beginning of a conversation.”

The short course will be named The Loop at The Patch and a grand opening is expected to coincide with the 2026 Masters tournament.

“The name will pay tribute to caddies who have used the course as a gathering spot for decades,” Ridley said. “We realize that this is an asset for the community and everyone in the community, and we have every intention and we will, I commit to you, that we will continue to have it be an affordable place for people to play golf.”

The injured Woods was not in attendance for Monday’s announcement as he recovers from surgery for a torn Achilles tendon, but recorded a message for the announcement.

“Partnering with Augusta National Golf Club to serve its surrounding community is truly special,” Woods said. “My passion for education and golf dates back a long time, as does my relationship with Augusta National and the city of Augusta.”

Woods has long-resisted any notion of transitioning from a competitor to a ceremonial golfer and, while that on-course decision might need to be made soon, Monday’s announcement can be seen as the next logical step in the golfer’s wider legacy.

“Tiger Woods secured his legacy in Augusta when he won his first green jacket in historic fashion in 1997,” Ridley said. “As we all know, he has since won four additional Masters, the most recent of which was in 2019.

“Tiger’s legacy stands side by side with the other greats of the game who have left an indelible mark on the Masters, legends such as Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and of course, our cofounder, Bobby Jones.”

In conjunction with the nearby course design, Ridley announced that Augusta National is partnering with Woods to create a local TGR Learning Lab, the golfer’s program and facility that provides underserved youth with access to education in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

It will be Woods’ fourth such facility. The second opened last week in Philadelphia and a third is scheduled for Los Angeles.

“This is a transformational opportunity to empower the next generation and deliver meaningful educational programming and access to fun and affordable golf. I am excited to work alongside Augusta National and see both projects become a reality,” Woods said.