It’s been six long months since Tiger Woods ruptured his Achilles tendon in March, forcing him to withdraw from the PGA Tour season and vanish from public view.
DALLAS, TEXAS – JULY 21: Tiger Woods watches his son Charlie Woods play during the first round of the U.S. Junior Amateur at Brook Hollow Golf Club on July 21, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo…
DALLAS, TEXAS – JULY 21: Tiger Woods watches his son Charlie Woods play during the first round of the U.S. Junior Amateur at Brook Hollow Golf Club on July 21, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images )
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But on Monday, the Big Cat roared back, sending shockwaves through the golf world with his first public swing since surgery.
The moment came during the Nexus Cup at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, an amateur match-play event hosted by Woods himself. The 49-year-old was seen hitting balls on the range overlooking the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty. His swing looked smooth with a steady posture.
And while he didn’t confirm a return date, the sight alone was enough to reignite speculation about a possible comeback.
Golf Fans Split Over Tiger Woods’ Comeback
The moment the video hit social media, fans flooded the posts with skepticism and hopes about the 15-time major winner’s return.
“It’s comeback SZN tiger fam,” one fan posted on X, reacting to a video shared by @TWLegion.
Another chimed in, “Nothing better than the GOAT getting back at it.”
But not all reactions were celebratory. Some fans expressed concern over Woods’ tentative motion and long absence from competitive golf.
“Hhhmmm… have to wait and see. That looks very tentative,” one user wrote under the same post by @TWLegion.
Others were more blunt, suggesting it might be time for Woods to “retire”, citing his age and extensive injury history.
Woods has endured more than a dozen surgeries throughout his career, including spinal fusion, ACL repairs, and recovery from a near-fatal car crash in 2021.
His Achilles injury, treated by Dr. Charlton Stucken in Florida, was the latest in a long line of setbacks.
And while Woods has remained active, supporting his son Charlie at junior tournaments and playing in several TGL matches earlier this year, his last official PGA Tour start was at the 2024 Open Championship, where he missed the cut.
The 82-time PGA Tour winner turns 50 this December, making him eligible for the PGA Tour Champions. Earlier this year, a fellow pro, Ernie Els, teased him with a bold message stating, “Beat us … If you can.”
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