Tiger Woods has finally broken cover for the first time since making an unsettling public appearance in Las Vegas over the weekend.
The PGA Tour legend was seen practicing in Pinehurst, North Carolina ahead of next week’s US Open, where he will hope to recover after failing to make the cut at last month’s PGA Championship in Louisville.
Woods’ presence in North Carolina was revealed by a local school counsellor and college professional, Amanda Faulk, who captioned the long-range shot: ‘Big Cat in the house.’
Although his back is to the camera, Woods appears to be his usual, professional self in the photo, which is a dramatic departure from how he looked at his eponymous charity poker tournament over the weekend in Las Vegas.
During a social media interview with poker great Phil Hellmuth, the 48-year-old Woods looked tired and clammy with red, nearly bloodshot eyes.
Tiger Woods was seen practicing in Pinehurst, North Carolina ahead of next week’s US Open
His physical appearance aside, Woods stayed on message by telling Hellmuth about the educational opportunities his charity has helped create for young people: ‘All of a sudden they’re in college flourishing. Going to Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Yale and going to amazing places doing amazing things.’
But in spite of his message, Woods’ fans reacted with concern. It was seven years ago that he was arrested for driving under the influence of prescription drugs before ultimately pleading down to reckless driving, and he’s since gone through rehab to battle an addiction to painkillers.
‘Can we be real for a second here?’ one fan asked online. ‘Is there nobody close enough to him in his camp that can step in and get him some real help? Somebody in his family? Anyone?’
‘No one wants to see him like this. It sucks.’
During a social media interview with poker great Phil Hellmuth, the 48-year-old Woods looked tired and clammy with red, nearly bloodshot eyesWoods talks with Poker great Phil HellmuthWoods is pictured alongside poker great Phil Ivey before starting his US Open preparation
Some fans were quick to leap to Woods’ defense.
‘I dont [sic] get what they are supposed to be stopping? Hes [sic] chilling you weirdo,’ one fan responded.
Another wrote: ‘What’s wrong with him? He seems great.’
‘People are upset he’s partying in Vegas? What?’ one fan asked.
‘That was freaking awesome. Man Tiger looked old for the first time to me. But he looks like a cool guy to hang out with.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to Woods’ camp for comment.
The clip of the 15-time major winner raised eyebrows among golf fans on social mediaNot everyone was happy to see the 48-year-old Woods enjoying himself at the Las Vegas event
In 2017, Woods was arrested near his home in Jupiter Island, Florida, for driving under the influence. At the time, he was allegedly asleep in his car, which was stationary in a traffic lane with its engine running.
He eventually pleaded guilty to reckless driving and received a year’s probation, as well as a $250 fine, and mandatory requirement to undergo 50 hours of community service along with regular drug tests.
Woods was also not allowed to drink alcohol during the probation, and if he violated his probation then he would be sentenced to 90 days in jail with an additional $500 fine.
In 2009, Woods crashed his car outside of his Windermere, Florida, during a dispute with his now-former wife over an alleged extramarital affair. Local police eventually declined to press charges after the incident.
Woods later acknowledged that he used Ambien. However, he didn’t directly answer when asked at a news conference at the time if Ambien played a role in the crash.
Woods had battled back pain for years and underwent rehab in 2010 for an addiction to Vicodin and Ambien, according to the New York Post.
Most recently in 2021, he survived a serious roll over car crash in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
It was later reported that Woods was driving over 80mph, nearly twice the speed-limit, before he crashed. However, no other vehicles were involved in the wreck and Woods wasn’t subjected to a breathalyzer at the time as it was believed he wasn’t impaired.