Tiger Woods Spotted at El Cardonal, Fueling Speculation of Return to Competition
Tiger Woods, who has been largely out of sight since undergoing ankle surgery in April, made a surprise appearance on Tuesday at El Cardonal at Diamante in Los Cabos, Mexico. The golf course is set to host this week’s World Wide Technology Championship, marking the first time a course designed by Woods will host a PGA TOUR event.
Woods, dressed in black slacks, a light-peach polo, and a black cap, was seen sitting on the passenger side of a golf cart at the Oasis Short Course. He watched as a First Tee participant received a lesson from PGA professional Michael Block before limping into the back of a white SUV.
This sighting of Woods is the third in recent months, leading to speculation that he may be preparing for a return to competition, even if in a limited capacity. In September, he was spotted chipping at Liberty National during an appearance with Rickie Fowler and Will Zalatoris. The following month, a video surfaced of him hitting balls at The Hay, a short course he helped design at Pebble Beach Resort while hosting the TGR Jr. Invitational.
While it remains uncertain whether Woods will compete in the upcoming events, he is expected to be on-site as the host of the unofficial Hero World Challenge from November 30 to December 3. Additionally, he is anticipated to tee it up with his son, Charlie, in the father-son PNC Championship from December 14 to 17.
Due to the ongoing pain and limitations caused by his car accident in 2021, which resulted in multiple breaks in his right tibia and fibula, as well as foot injuries, walking has been a challenge for Woods. Jason Day revealed that Woods withdrew from the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills due to a screw penetrating his skin. Last year, Woods was unable to compete in the Hero World Challenge due to plantar fasciitis.
Since his accident, Woods has made five official TOUR starts but has completed 72 holes only twice. He finished 47th at the 2022 Masters, where he had previously won in 2019. At The Genesis Invitational earlier this season, he shot a third-round 67 but ended up with a T45 finish.
Although Woods made the cut at this year’s Masters, his 23rd consecutive made cut, he had to withdraw due to cold and wet weather conditions. He underwent fusion surgery on his ankle on April 19 in New York.
Reflecting on his journey, Woods expressed gratitude for his leg despite the alterations and hardware it now contains. He acknowledged the challenges he faces and the limitations on his ability to participate in as many tournaments as he would like, but he remains optimistic about his future in the sport.