It's been a long few years for Tiger Woods, who has been hampered by numerous ailments since nearly losing his leg in a car accident in 2021.
But on Tuesday, it seemed the golf great showed signs of life in his old appendage. Woods returned to the course at the Nexus Cup, an "exclusive amateur event" he hosts at Liberty National, alongside fellow PGA Tour stars Rickie Fowler and Will Zalatoris.
And although he moved gingerly for much of the encounter, the winces and anguish that have washed over Woods' face during the great majority of golf tournaments he's competed in over the past few years were noticeably absent.
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Tiger Woods injury update
Sporting a bulky black sleeve on his right leg, Woods appeared in good spirits. He's had more than his fair share of injuries lately; most recently, the 47-year-old underwent surgery in an effort to repair the damage he suffered to his right leg and ankle after the wreck.
This week, though, he was lithe. Limber, too. And it made an impression on his collared comrades, who followed his words like a midge to light.
It was the first time Woods has been seen playing since going under the knife back in April. He frolicked around the meadow alongside Fowler and Zalatoris, even launching few chip shots into the Jersey City wilderness.
The procedure Woods' underwent, a "subtalar fusion", locks bones around the ankle in an effort to strengthen the joint and relieve pain. It's particularly useful for players wading through uneven terrain, something which Woods and his fellow PGA golfers know everything about.
Tiger Woods return to golf
Woods is still firmly on the recovery trail as of now, it seems. But his return doesn't seem a million miles away. And with the Hero World Challenge and the PNC Championship on the docket before the end of the year, fans will be waiting with bated breath to see just what's next as Woods attempts to return to full fitness for the first time in more than two years.