Tiger Woods is back… hitting balls on a driving range in public view for the first time in months. It made not sound like news, but it’s hugely consequential when it comes to the 15-time major champion, his legions of fans and his future in pro golf.
Here’s what you need to know.
Tiger Woods spotted on range at Liberty National
First, the goods. This week, Woods is at Liberty National in New Jersey. The course, with views of Manhattan’s skyline just across the river, has hosted multiple PGA Tour events, as well as the 2017 Presidents Cup.
In recent years, it has also hosted the Nexus Cup. The Nexus Cup is an annual luxury amateur golf event. According to the official website, the event is “available to only 18 foursomes, combines two days of team competition with curated gifts, exquisite cuisine, fine wine and more including exciting evening festivities at NEXUS Club New York.”
In his role as host, Woods has frequently performed clinics for the lucky attendees at the Nexus Cup in years past. And this year appears to be no different.
On Tuesday, video surfaced of Woods hitting balls on Liberty National’s range. The quick clip shows Woods decked out in blue Sun Day Red golf clothes, hitting what appears to be a full wedge shot.
It also appears that Tiger is swinging without pain, which is significant given his latest surgery in March that has kept him off the golf course ever since — at least when cameras have been rolling.
Check out the clip below.
Why does Tiger’s range session matter?
So why are golf fans desperate to see a glimpse of Woods on the range? That’s simple. They haven’t seen it in a long, long time.
The last time Woods competed against pros in public was his final TGL match of the season in early March. He was expected to make his return to pro golf shortly thereafter, perhaps at the 2025 Masters.
But days after his final TGL match, Woods announced that he’d ruptured his Achilles tendon. The resulting surgery and recovery ended his PGA Tour comeback hopes for 2025.
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Last winter, Woods had made his most recent return from a September 2024 surgery at the PNC Championship in December. He and son Charlie Woods put on a show that week (they shot a 59!), eventually losing to Team Langer in a playoff.
Tiger’s last pro start came at the 2024 Open Championship last July, where he missed the cut. It was one of only five events he played that season, with his only made cut coming at the Masters, where he finished in 60th.
Incredibly, his five starts in 2024 was the most Tiger had made in a season since 2020, one year after winning the 2019 Masters.
Given all of that, any footage of a healthy Tiger Woods playing golf is big news in the game. It also sparks questions about when Woods will make his next return to professional golf.
When will Tiger Woods make his return?
The first opportunity Woods has to compete in a real stroke-play tournament is the Hero World Challenge in early December. Woods is host of the long-running event, and he’s chosen to make multiple returns from surgery there in the past.
With a small field of top pros, a laidback competition and few fans, it’s a great opportunity to ease back into the game.
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But if Woods’ health isn’t quite ready by then, the next most obvious chance would be the 2025 PNC Championship at the end of December.
The exhibition event is low stress, and he would get to play alongside Charlie as they try and avenge their playoff loss last year.
As for real professional events, there are two obvious places Woods could mount his return in 2026. And both are far off.
First, the Genesis Invitational at Riviera in February, another tournament that he hosts. The second, of course, is the 2026 Masters at Augusta National, where Woods would be looking to tie Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record of six Masters victories.
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