Get ready for the golf comeback of Tiger Woods.
Woods posted a video on his official Twitter account on Thursday that he titled “official practice swing!” The 36-year-old is clearly jogging around the grounds of the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida, where he is scheduled to play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational starting on Thursday.
[email protected] is back. First time we’ve seen him practicing swing since his car accident that started his worst injury-filled stretch of his career. @PGATOUR pic.twitter.com/beLSJ9cfzG — The Golf Channel (@TheGolfChannel) October 4, 2017
Earlier this week, Woods announced via his official Twitter account that he’d decided to return to the golf course after a five-month absence due to a back injury.
I am excited to announce that after a long process of rehabilitation, I’m ready to tee it up at Arnold Palmer Invitational this week. — Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) October 3, 2017
During his announcement, Woods repeatedly apologized to the fans who missed out on seeing him play while he was away from the course.
I want to personally apologize to all the fans, sponsors and everyone else that have been patient and waiting for my return. — Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) October 3, 2017
Famed golfer Jack Nicklaus initially rebuked the news, saying that a comeback was unlikely given Woods’ recent history. Woods also suffered his most recent spinal fusion surgery in April, and in August entered a rehabilitation program, which included laying off the club.
Nicklaus, for his part, attended Woods’ announcement and after his remarks gave him the thumbs up sign and said “next stop” — not exactly the benediction that many had hoped to hear.
Still, Nicklaus may have failed to prepare enough in advance for Woods’ announcement. Woods had previously told Golf Digest in a phone interview, “I got my coming out party at Arnold Palmer Invitational seven or eight years ago.”
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