On Tuesday, the 15-time major champion Tiger Woods lit up social media with a video that has already got fans asking the big question: Could he really come back this season?
Just six months ago, in March, Woods announced he had ruptured his Achilles while training — a gut punch to fans already familiar with his long list of injuries. At the time, the outlook was bleak. Woods admitted he might be sidelined not just for 2025, but potentially into 2026.
But now? The golf legend is back, hitting balls — and doing it at Liberty National, no less — the iconic course in Jersey City, New Jersey, during his Lexus Cup event for amateurs. The video showed Woods on the range, taking clean swings, showing balance, and, most importantly, showing hope.
Tiger Woods Gets Achilles Repaired
Woods had undergone a minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair, performed by Dr. Charlton Stucken at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach. While that kind of surgery typically signals a long road back — especially at age 49 — Woods has never played by the rules when it comes to recoveries.
This was just the latest chapter in a brutal run of physical setbacks. In September 2024, he had yet another back procedure — part of a growing list that includes knee surgeries, spinal fusions, and, of course, the catastrophic leg injuries from his 2021 car crash.
Earlier this year, Woods hadn’t made a single PGA Tour start. But he was expected to compete at the Masters and other majors — until the Achilles tear changed everything.
And let’s be clear, this wasn’t just a strain. According to Mass General Brigham, a rupture means a full severing of the tendon. It’s one of the most serious soft-tissue injuries an athlete can face.
Yet here he is. No crutches. No brace. Just Tiger, a golf club, and a swing.
No official return date has been set. But if history tells us anything, it’s this: Tiger Woods doesn’t post swing videos unless something is brewing. Whether it’s 2025 or 2026, he’s not done yet.
