Tiger Woods Hits Golf Ball at Liberty National, Signals Imminent Return to Tournaments?

Tiger Woods is hitting golf balls once again. For the 15-time major champion working through a lengthy return to competitive play, this quiet sight at the driving range marks a notable new development.

Woods was spotted practicing at Liberty National Golf Club, New Jersey on Tuesday 15 September. Footage circulating on social media marks the first public time Woods has been seen striking a golf ball since his legal incident back in March.

This appearance took place during the NEXUS Cup, an exclusive amateur team tournament limited to just 18 foursomes. Launched in 2019, the event is operated by Woods' own TGR Foundation.  

Woods' attendance this year had been uncertain amid the ongoing legal case he was facing. But once on site at Liberty National, Woods picked up a golf club once more, offering a small glimpse into the current state of his game.

"I can hit just about every shot," Woods stated.

This brief comment does not mean the golfer is already cleared to return to professional tournament play. It does however confirm his golf activity is continuing, and that ball striking remains an active part of his ongoing recovery process.

Woods has not competed in a professional tournament since the 2024 Open Championship. His path back to competitive golf remains difficult, following seven separate back surgeries.

Severe lower right leg injuries sustained in his 2021 car crash have also repeatedly delayed Woods' return. For this reason, every sighting of Woods holding a golf club draws intense attention from fans worldwide.

Liberty National carries extra significance in this story. The course is set to host the 2027 BMW Championship, a PGA Tour tournament scheduled for 16-22 August that will act as the penultimate event in the FedExCup playoff series.

This New Jersey venue is no stranger to elite golf competition. Previously, Liberty National hosted the 2017 Presidents Cup, as well as the FedExCup Playoffs in 2019.

"We are incredibly excited to bring the PGA Tour's best players back to Liberty National for the BMW Championship," stated WGA Senior Vice President of Tournaments Vince Pellegrino when the venue was announced in 2023.

"This course knows the pressure of FedExCup Playoffs golf very well, and we know it will deliver an unmatched experience for both our players and fans."

Away from the course, Woods has just concluded legal proceedings stemming from his 27 March crash on Jupiter Island, Florida, where the SUV he was driving rolled over after colliding with a trailer.

The case ran for multiple months. On 2 September, Woods pleaded no contest to charges of reckless driving and refusal to submit a urine test.

As part of the plea agreement, the DUI charge against Woods was dismissed, while his driving license was suspended for five years.

Now attention has shifted back to golf. The footage of Woods at Liberty National gives no clear timeline for his return to professional competition, but it confirms that hitting golf balls is once again part of his daily routine.

For Woods, comeback does not need to start under the bright lights of a major championship. Sometimes, that journey begins quietly on a driving range, one swing at a time.