Tiger Woods has made his first public appearance at a golf course since suffering an Achilles injury in March, arriving at BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on Thursday.
The 15-time major champion was spotted riding in a golf cart whilst watching his son Charlie compete in the Florida State Golf Association's 108th Amateur Championship.
Woods has been absent from competitive golf since rupturing his left Achilles tendon during preparations for the Masters tournament in April, requiring surgery performed by Dr Charlton Stucken at Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach.
The golfing legend appeared to be making progress in his recovery, moving about without wearing a boot or cast on his left leg.
Tiger Woods made a surprise appearance this week at a golf course to watch his son Charlie in action
GETTYHe was accompanied by a group of supporters wearing hats from his Sun Day Red brand, though his new girlfriend Vanessa Trump was notably absent from the gathering.
Woods, who has been dating Trump for the past few months, did not bring any clubs for himself but remained in the gallery throughout his son's competition.
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His presence marked a significant milestone in his rehabilitation journey following the minimally-invasive tendon repair surgery he underwent earlier this year.
Woods' extended absence from professional golf has resulted in a dramatic tumble down the Official World Golf Rankings, with the American now positioned at 1,460th place globally.
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Tiger Woods has not been able to play while recovering
ReutersThis represents a career-low trajectory that began in late April when he fell to 1,341st, marking an unprecedented decline for the former world number one.
Since the end of 2023, Woods has plummeted an extraordinary 336 places in the standings, reflecting the impact of his prolonged period away from competitive play.
The sharp decline underscores the challenges facing the 48-year-old as he attempts to return to the sport following his latest injury setback.
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Woods revealed the extent of his injury in a social media post at the time, stating: "As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured."
Dr Stucken, who performed the procedure, said: "The surgery went smoothly, and we expect a full recovery."
The injury occurred just weeks after Woods suffered a personal tragedy with the death of his mother, Kultida, in February.
Woods indicated he would "focus on my recovery and rehab" whilst thanking supporters for their messages during his absence from the sport.
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