Tiger Woods Will Return To Competition At Hero World Challenge

Xinhua News Agency. Getty Images.

Tiger Woods will return to competition just seven months after subtalar ankle fusion surgery. He committed to the Hero World Challenge, the 18-man tournament in the Bahamas that benefits his TGR foundation, which begins Nov. 30. 

Recent videos have surfaced showing Woods caddieing for his son, Charlie, and walking with a significantly improved gait. It’s the best Woods’ walk has looked since his Febraury 21 accident. Woods has played just twice in 2023–a T45 at the Genesis Invitational and a WD at the Masters. He underwent the procedure shortly thereafter. 

The Hero is the perfect place for Woods to begin his latest comeback. There’s a laidback vibe on-site all week.  The limited field means great tee times. It’s a relatively flat course, and the warm weather helps Woods at this stage in his career. And his presence will surely add juice to a tournament that’s important to his foundation. 

The goal of this latest surgery was to improve his walk and stabilize the area, even if it comes with a slight loss of mobility  

Woods was set to play in the Hero last year but withdrew on the Monday of tournament week. He has not posted a finish better than T45 since the accident and recently dropped to No. 1307 in the world, the lowest he’s ever been.