By Estea Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo Credit: Tiger Woods X
Tiger Woods has been cleared to resume full golf activities, raising hopes of a competitive return as early as December, when the third season of TGL is scheduled to begin.
The 15- time major champion has been recovering from his latest back surgery, his fourth in six months, while also working towards a return to competitive golf following a rollover crash in Florida in March.
Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, confirmed to ESPN’s Bob Harig that the 50 year old had received positive news from his medical team and could increase his activity. “He got a nice report and is allowed to proceed,” Steinberg said. “He can do as much as he needs to do. Tiger is going to take this very, very slowly. This is good, but he plans to do it the right way.”
According to Steinberg, Woods has not been experiencing pain as he gradually increases his practice routine. However, the agent stopped short of providing a timeline for his return to competition, stressing that the golfer would take his recovery one day at a time.
“We have not even talked about it, “Steinberg said. “We will see what each day brings, what each week brings.”
Woods recently shared a video of himself hitting a driver, offering fans an encouraging glimpse of his progress. His latest medical clearance follows a period in which his practice had been limited. At the Presidents Cup three weeks earlier, he had reportedly been restricted to short wedge shots.
Woods is reportedly expected to feature for Jupiter Links Golf Club, the team he captains, when the new TGL season begins on December 27, provided he suffers no further physical setbacks. ESPN’s Mark Schlabach reported that Woods had not yet formally committed to playing.
If he takes part, it would mark his first competitive appearance since a TGL match in March, shortly before the Florida crash that kept him away from the course.
The indoor team golf league’s third season is scheduled to feature 14 regular season matches followed by a four team play off, running from March 1 to 23 at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Woods could also consider other opportunities to return later this year. These include the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, the unofficial tournament he hosts, and the PNC Championship, where he could compete alongside his son, Charlie.
The latter event is played over 36 holes and allows players to use a golf cart, potentially offering a less physically demanding route back to competition.
His schedule for 2027 remains uncertain, although the Genesis Invitational, which Woods hosts in Los Angeles each February, could provide another possible opportunity to play before the major championship season.
Woods has endured a difficult period physically. He ruptured his Achilles tendon and underwent back surgery in 2025, missing all four major championships that year. His most recent competitive appearance on the PGA Tour came at the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon, where he missed the cut.
His return to golf has also been complicated by the legal consequences of the March crash in Jupiter Island, Florida. Woods was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and later pleaded guilty to misdemeanour charges of reckless driving and refusing to submit to a lawful test. His driving licence was suspended for five years.
The golfer subsequently stepped away from the sport to seek treatment, reportedly travelling to Switzerland.
Despite his latest medical clearance, a return to competition is not guaranteed. Woods and his team have made clear that the priority is a gradual recovery rather than a fixed comeback date.
For now, the prospect of appearing for Jupiter Links in December offers a possible target, but his participation will depend on how his body responds as he resumes full golf activities. Any decision on a broader PGA Tour schedule is likely to follow only once his recovery progresses.