Tiger Woods, the PGA Tour icon, has been spotted swinging golf clubs for the first time since his Achilles tendon rupture in March, hinting at yet another incredible comeback.
The 49-year-old golf legend hasn’t played competitive golf since the PNC Championship in December, where he partnered with his son Charlie and secured a second-place finish. Woods’ last official tournament was the Open Championship in July 2024, where he didn’t make the cut.
2025 has been a tough year for Woods, who lost his mother in February and then suffered a severe injury. This unfortunate turn of events ruled him out of the Masters, sparking speculation about his future in golf.
However, Woods is now back in action, swinging clubs at The Nexus Cup.
Woods has been linked to The Nexus Cup since its first event in September 2020. This charity event aids in raising funds for his TGR Foundation.
This year, the two-day event took place at Liberty National Golf Club in New York. In addition to the competition, Woods hosts a clinic aimed at helping attendees improve their golf skills, and the PGA Tour veteran often joins in.
On Tuesday, Woods was seen practicing his pitch shots, fueling hopes among golf enthusiasts for his return to the course in 2026. While Woods hasn’t hinted at retirement, he has scaled back his schedule in recent years and no longer plays full-time.
Before his most recent injury, Woods had been grappling with a series of back and lower leg issues. The champion of 82 PGA Tour events has undergone several surgeries, including one in March to address an Achilles problem.
Woods was on track for his first tournament of the season when the injury occurred, dashing any hopes of him competing at Augusta National. On March 11, Woods confirmed that he had undergone a minimally invasive procedure.
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“As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured,” Woods shared in a statement. Dr. Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida performed a minimally-invasive Achilles tendon repair for a ruptured tendon this morning.
“The surgery went smoothly, and we expect a full recovery. I am back home now and plan to focus on my recovery and rehab, thank you for all the support.”
While fans were worried about Woods’ future, golf legends Fred Couples and Sam Torrance remained hopeful. “He’s in great spirits for a ruptured Achilles,” Couples told PGA TOUR Champions. “… He’ll be fine.
“It’s such a bummer because people think, ‘When’s he going to play? He was scheduled to play a few events, not a ton, but a few. And you know his mother’s passing away would slow anyone down. But he’s my man, and texting him is a lot of fun.”
In a conversation with Mirror U.S. Sports, Torrance shared his insights on Woods’ unparalleled impact on golf: “There’s one thing I’ve learned over the years with Tiger Woods, never say never. I believe he is just the most extraordinary golfer we’ve ever had.
“Nicklaus’ record is better, he was my hero, but Tiger Woods brought a different level of golf to the world. He is capable of anything.”
