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Tiger Woods, 50, fuels talk of a comeback as he's seen in action in rare public appearance after horror DUI car crash

Tiger Woods teased how he may look playing at Pebble Beach for next summer’s US Open while putting on a driving range clinic at the famous golf resort.

Woods was filmed hitting balls at Monterey Peninsula Country Club, hinting that he may be close to a return to playing competitively again.

The 15-time major champion was in the area for a series of events at multiple courses – including the TW Invitational and the TGR Jr Invitational.

In between, he got some swings in as his TGR Live social media account posted a video with the caption: ‘Back on your feed, right where this swing belongs.’

Woods also boosted spirits by hosting the match play finals of the youth event – even delivering introductions of 60 young players.

The golf legend has been seen hitting balls more frequently as of late, including posting a practice session from Liberty National in New Jersey last month.

Tiger Woods was spotted on the driving range again fueling rumors of a possible comeback

Woods was putting on a clinic while at Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach

Woods was putting on a clinic while at Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach

Woods hasn't played competitively since 2024 amid health issues and a DUI arrest

Woods hasn’t played competitively since 2024 amid health issues and a DUI arrest

In September, Woods pled no contest to the charges stemming from the DUI back in late March and struck a deal with prosecutors which will see the golfer banned from driving for five years.

After his arrest, Woods got permission from the court to fly to Switzerland – where he spent months in a rehabilitation facility.

The 50-year-old has not played in a professional golf tournament since the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon, where he missed the cut.

Woods changed his plea in a courtroom in early September, which allowed him to avoid the case going to trial.

According to police, Woods was driving at a high speed along a beachside road when his Land Rover clipped a tractor-trailer truck and rolled onto its side, causing about $5,000 worth of damage to the other vehicle. 

He was able to crawl out of the car without any injuries before later admitting to officers he was looking at his phone and changing the radio at the time of the collision. 

A Breathalyzer test did not reveal any alcohol in Woods’s system, but he refused a urine test, according to police.

The Sheriff’s report obtained by the Daily Mail said deputies found opioids in his pocket and he showed signs of impairment.

Woods previously broke the clubs out at Liberty National in New Jersey in September

Woods previously broke the clubs out at Liberty National in New Jersey in September

Woods recently pled no contest to DUI charges and had his license suspended for five years

 Woods recently pled no contest to DUI charges and had his license suspended for five years

A previous hearing was held on August 4, following a July ruling that allowed prosecutors to obtain Woods’ hospital records that were connected to the crash. 

Martin County circuit court judge Darren Steele approved an agreement between the State Attorney’s Office and Woods’ legal team that allowed prosecutors to request records from the hospital that treated the PGA legend following his crash.

Back in May, Steele approved a similar agreement granting prosecutors access to Woods’ prescription medication records from his Palm Beach pharmacy between January 1 and his March crash. 

Prosecutors and Woods’s attorney have agreed to a protective order that limits the release of any hospital or prescription records to the State Attorney’s Office, law enforcement, state experts and the defense.

Woods was closing in on a return to golf and was widely expected to compete at The Masters in the days before the crash.

The 15-time major champion’s legal problems have since been put into perspective by Vanessa’s cancer diagnosis. She revealed her bout with an unspecified form of breast cancer back in May. 

Woods changed his plea to no contest during a court hearing on September 2

Woods changed his plea to no contest during a court hearing on September 2 

Woods appeared puffy-eyed as he left the court alongside doting girlfriend Vanessa Trump

Woods appeared puffy-eyed as he left the court alongside doting girlfriend Vanessa Trump

Vanessa led him back to a car after he had pleaded no contest and had his license suspended

Vanessa led him back to a car after he had pleaded no contest and had his license suspended 

The March crash marked the fourth major driving-related incident of Woods’s adult life. 

Five years earlier, when Woods rolled another SUV down a steep embankment in California, he did not face any accusations of driving under the influence. Instead, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department claimed Woods was driving at around 80mph, nearly twice the legal limit, at the time of the crash. 

Witnesses told TMZ that Woods appeared agitated and impatient while leaving a golf tournament parking lot in the moments before the crash.

Woods was never charged in 2021, but he wasn’t so lucky in 2017, when he was found by Jupiter police about 15 miles from his home. Officers said they found him unconscious in his Mercedes-Benz, which was parked awkwardly on the roadside at around 3am.

Upon closer inspection, they noticed damage to his vehicle.

Woods didn’t have any alcohol in his system, but later tests found the active ingredient for marijuana, two painkillers, Vicodin and Dilaudid, the sleep drug Ambien and the anti-anxiety drug Xanax.

Woods appeared puffy-faced as he arrived for his change-of-plea hearing in Florida

Woods appeared puffy-faced as he arrived for his change-of-plea hearing in Florida

Vanessa was front and center inside the court as Woods pleaded no contest to reckless driving

Vanessa was front and center inside the court as Woods pleaded no contest to reckless driving

Woods after his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) in Jupiter, Florida, on May 29, 2017. He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving

Woods after his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) in Jupiter, Florida, on May 29, 2017. He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving

Woods changed his original not guilty plea in the wake of his DUI arrest back in March

The golf legend wore a blue suit and tie for the hearing at Martin County Court in Stuart, Florida

Woods changed his original not guilty plea in the wake of his DUI arrest back in March

Vanessa Trump, girlfriend of Tiger Woods, is seen with him and daughter Kai back in March

Vanessa with him and her 19-year-old daughter Kai back in March

He later claimed he had been self-medicating for pain caused by his fourth back surgery and insomnia. 

Woods did not specifically address the marijuana issue and he wasn’t found with the drug in his possession.

Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving and received a year of probation, a $250 fine and was ordered to undergo 50 hours of community service. 

He was also banned from drinking alcohol during the probation.

In July 2017, Woods completed a private program to address his dependency on painkillers.

‘I will continue to tackle this going forward with my doctors, family and friends,’ he tweeted at the time. ‘I am so very thankful for all of the support I’ve received.’ 

Woods stands alongside his lawyer to face County Judge Darren Steele on Wednesday

Woods stands alongside his lawyer to face County Judge Darren Steele on Wednesday

In April the Daily Mail broke the news that the golfer would leaving the country 'imminently'

In April the Daily Mail broke the news that the golfer would leaving the country ‘imminently’

The golf great flipped his Land Rover clean onto its side during his accident in Jupiter

The golf great flipped his Land Rover clean onto its side during his accident in Jupiter 

Woods’ most notorious car crash took place in 2009, when he rammed his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant, tree and several hedges near his home.

He was treated for minor injuries and received a ticket for careless driving, but while he thanked his then-wife Elin Nordegren for getting him out of the car, there were lingering doubts about the story. 

After all, it was only days earlier that the National Enquirer claimed he’d had an affair with Rachel Uchitel, a 9/11 widow and New York nightclub manager.

The alleged details of the November 27, 2009 crash were ultimately included in the best-selling biography by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian, titled Tiger Woods.

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