Tiger Woods is back hitting golf balls. The 15-time major champion made his first public appearance since his DUI arrest and the car crash he was involved in back in March, a sight that immediately fueled speculation about a possible return to the PGA Tour.
The video was posted Tuesday by the official live events account of the TGR Foundation and later shared by the PGA Tour on social media.
“Tiger Woods is back on the range!” the Tour posted on X. “His last PGA Tour start was July 2024.”
The 50-year-old was seen hitting iron shots during a clinic at Liberty National in New Jersey as part of the activities leading up to this week’s Nexus Cup, the amateur event he hosts to raise money for his TGR Foundation.
Woods’ return to the public eye comes six months after he stepped away from golf following his DUI arrest. The American flipped his SUV after striking a trailer being towed by a truck in Jupiter, Florida.
According to the sheriff’s office report, deputies found two pain pills in one of his pockets and observed signs of impairment after the crash. His breathalyzer test came back negative for alcohol, but Woods refused to take a urine test at the scene.
Since then, he has kept a very low profile. He traveled to Switzerland during the spring to continue his rehabilitation and, although he lost his driver’s license, he is still allowed to operate a golf cart on courses in Florida.
His last public appearance with a golf club came in March, when he joined his Jupiter Links team during the TGL indoor golf league final.
During Tuesday’s clinic, Woods also addressed his recovery. He is attempting to return after undergoing disc replacement surgery and recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, injuries that have kept him out of competition for more than a year. He has not played in an official tournament since the 2024 Open Championship.
“I can hit pretty much anything,” Woods said when asked about the progress of his recovery in a video posted by golf influencer Tisha Alyn on her Instagram Story.
“I’m a little stiff today because, obviously, last night we were all hanging out, having fun.”
The biggest obstacle to his comeback has not been his swing, but his physical endurance. Woods has acknowledged that his body has struggled to hold up when walking a full course over several consecutive days.
For now, any expectations surrounding his competitive return are focused on the Hero World Challenge, the tournament hosted by Woods that is scheduled for Nov. 30 through Dec. 6 in the Bahamas.
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