New Tiger Woods video raises comeback hopes

The first video of Tiger Woods hitting golf shots since his ankle surgery back in April has sent social media wild.

Any sighting of the 15-time major champion generates interest, so a clip that raises hopes that he is not far away from another miraculous competitive comeback unsurprisingly has his fans in a frenzy.

Woods had not been spotted striking a ball since undergoing subtalar fusion surgery to his right ankle after withdrawing from the Masters in brutal weather conditions six months ago.

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But over the weekend, the 47-year-old was filmed playing holes alongside his son Charlie at The Hay, a par-3 course at Pebble Beach which he helped redesign in 2021.

In various posts on TaylorMade Golf’s social media, Woods is filmed hitting full wedge shots for the first time, and there are other clips of him practising on the putting green and playing the par-3 course.

Woods has not yet been publicly seen hitting longer shots, but there is now enough evidence for the golf world to speculate when he could be about to make his tournament comeback.

There are few things better than watching @TigerWoods hit golf shots out on the Monterrey Peninsula. 💯 #TeamTaylorMade pic.twitter.com/sGUPj4Q2Tu

— TaylorMade Golf (@TaylorMadeGolf) October 8, 2023

🚨🐅 #WATCH Tiger Woods & his son Charlie played The Hay short course at Pebble Beach yesterday. Tiger is in town this week for the @TGRLiveEvents JR Invitational & TW Invitational.

(🎥: isabelladoub & passport420 – IG) pic.twitter.com/MG5SRT6hwK

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) October 8, 2023

The Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis wrote on X: “I believe there is a good chance we will see @TigerWoods tee it up at the Hero World Challenge later this year.”

The Hero World Challenge takes place in the Bahamas from November 30 – December 3 and is a tournament Woods has returned in after injury setbacks before.

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In mid-December, Woods could also play at the PNC Championship, which has emerged as one of his preferred tournaments in his new limited schedule.

He has played in the last three PNC team events with son Charlie and would benefit from riding in a golf cart in Orlando.

It is perhaps too soon to be talking about what follows, and whether another Masters appearance is on the cards for Woods in 2024.

But that won’t stop his army of followers hoping that their injury-ravaged hero can defy the odds yet again and compete at the highest level once more.