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 Instagram 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. Marking his 7th painful back surgery amidst numerous other injuries, especially at the age of around 50, a replacement surgery can be taxing, to say the least. Now, displaying his incredible resilience and strength, Woods appears fit and in shape, and fans are anticipating his return.

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. Some fans pointed out Woods looks healthy and robust coming off the surgery, writing, “Up and about already is a good sign,” and “He looks much less puffy, which is a good sign imo.” We all know this is not the first time the 5x Masters winner has found himself amid anticipation for his return to the greens.

Just last year, Woods underwent his sixth back surgery, a microdiscectomy for nerve impingement. That ruled him out of the Hero World Challenge. More recently, in March, the 49-year-old’s left Achilles tendon ruptured, and he underwent a minimally invasive rupture and repair surgery. That crushed comeback rumors, disheartening fans who expected him to return to the majors. 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.

Woods’s latest disc replacement surgery has ruled him out of the competition 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 range from 6 months to a year.

However, now with the latest Bridgestone Golf content shoot, Woods looks ready to return gradually. Whether that’s at select PGA Tour starts or at the much-awaited debut of the PGA Tour Champions is debatable. Having said that, Woods did make a few appearances in the past 12-13 months, despite not competing that actively.

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Tiger Woods’s appearance in the last few months

Tiger Woods with his son, Charlie Woods, at the PNC Championship in December ’24. We know PNC is not the full 72-hole thing, 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 TGL matches at the SoFi Center in 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. Then an announcement of the disc replacement surgery was enough to set the golfing world. Still, fans and peers alike showed immense support and encouragement. Regardless, one public appearance is more than enough to send the entire community into a frenzy, like this content shoot.