Woods expressed his disappointment in a post on X, stating, “I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete this year at the Hero World Challenge, but always look forward to being tournament host and spending the week with @HeroMotoCorp.”
As a five-time champion of the World Challenge, Woods has hosted the annual event but has only participated once in the last three years due to ongoing health issues. His sixth back surgery took place in September, aimed at alleviating the back spasms and pain he experienced during his 2024 appearances, the latest being at the British Open in July at Royal Troon.
With 82 PGA Tour victories, Woods is tied with Sam Snead for the all-time record, yet he has made only 10 official starts since a car accident in 2021 that resulted in significant leg injuries. The defending champion is top-ranked Scottie Scheffler.
This will be the first appearance in the event for 20-year-old Dunlap, who made history as the first amateur in 33 years to win a PGA Tour event when he claimed the American Express title in January. He subsequently joined the PGA Tour and secured his second title last July at the Barracuda Championship, becoming the first player to win both as a professional and an amateur in the same season.