It’s not uncommon to see Tiger Woods swinging in and out of motion, making quick comebacks from injuries. But last month, Woods went through a lumbar disc surgery at the L4/5 level; not many expected him to bounce back any time soon. A new video clip shared by @standregolf and @hey_hannah_rae on their stories suggests a different story.

Posting clips from his latest shoot at the Bridgestone Golf content shoot in Florida, the sources portrayed a healthy Woods posing for the promotional content. It’s one of the few times Woods has appeared in the public eye since his lumbar disc replacement surgery, which demanded complete rest and rehab. Marking his 7th back surgery amidst numerous other injuries, especially at the age of around 50, a replacement surgery can be taxing, to say the least.

However, displaying his incredible resilience and strength, Woods is back and looks fit and in shape. One user commented, “I’ve seen enough, see you at Augusta TW,” expressing how they wouldn’t be surprised if Tiger Woods teed it up at the Masters ‘26. Another user pointed out how he looks healthy and robust coming off from the surgery already, writing: “Up and about already is a good sign.”

These comments portray the fans’ sentiment, which is already anticipating Woods’s comeback without a doubt. Whether that’s possible at the moment is, however, highly doubtful.

This is not the first time the golf legend has found himself amid anticipation for his return to the greens. However, having had multiple surgeries already, Woods looks to be out of the professional circuit for an indefinite amount of time. Just last year, Woods underwent his sixth back surgery, a microdiscectomy for nerve impingement. That ruled him out of the Hero World Challenge, an invitational hosted by the golf legend himself.

More recently, in March, the 49-year-old’s left Achilles tendon ruptured, undergoing a minimally invasive rupture and repair surgery. That crushed comeback rumors, disheartening fans who expected him to return to competing soon. A brief celebrity appearance at the Nexus Cup of the TGR Foundation in September stood as a positive sign of a return to many. However, his last competitive start remains at the Royal Troon in July 2024, more than a year earlier.

His latest disc replacement surgery, however, has ruled him out for months at the very least. What makes this surgery different, and potentially more strenuous, is that it is a full bone replacement, instead of simply removing or relieving pressure, like the multiple microdiscectomies he has had over the years. The recovery timelines for this type of surgery can span anywhere between 6 months to a year, in the case of veterans like Tiger Woods.

However, according to the Big Cat himself, this is one of the best health decisions he has made. In his statement following the successful operation, Woods shared, “The scans determined that I had a collapsed disc in L4/L5, disc fragments and a compromised spinal canal. I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday and already know I made a good decision for my health and back.” The surgery was done at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York by Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi and his team.

However, now with the latest Bridgestone Golf content shoot, Woods looks ready to slowly return to motion. Whether that’s at select PGA Tour starts or at the Champions Tour is debatable. But, beyond the comeback rumours, this moment marks one of the limited few public appearances he has made since his surgery saga began.

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Tiger Woods in the public eye

One of the earliest comebacks Tiger Woods made was with his son, Charlie Woods, at the PNC Championship in December last year. The golf legend was seen walking and playing on-course, with golf carts, for the first time since his back surgery forced him to step back. However, in terms of his competitive flair and edge, this event wasn’t in the full tour format. But the father-son team event still marked a significant step towards complete recovery and returning swagger on the greens.

While he missed the Hero World Challenge due to the gruelling competing threats on his back, the 49-year-old officially competed in the technology-infused TGL matches in the SoFi Center at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The indoor, limited event allowed the veteran to keep in touch with the sport while avoiding lasting regrets from the repeated strenuous movements. Right as the dust settled from the TGL season 1, Woods was seen on the course supporting his son Charlie in the Florida Amateur Championship in June 2025.

At the Nexus Cup hosted by Woods at Liberty National Golf Club in September 2025, he was publicly seen hitting wedge shots on the driving range for the first time since his Achilles-tendon surgery in March. This aroused the golfing world with anticipation, as Woods seemed to recover fast.

Unfortunately, just a month later, the disc replacement surgery announcement was enough to set the golfing world. Still, fans and peers alike showed immense support and encouragement through his rehab journey, while some cited a need for his retirement. Regardless, one public appearance is more than enough to send the entire community into a frenzy, like this content shoot.