Tiger Woods is officially back on the practice range after announcing Thursday he had had his first private golf lesson since the accident that exposed a long-term back injury.
VIDEO: A few shots on my way back! No better feeling than getting to go back out there again!! #BacktoWin pic.twitter.com/zq3Fy3icD9 — Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) September 1, 2016
Woods posted a video of his swing on Twitter and said there were “no better feeling than getting to go back out there again.” The video appeared to show Woods hitting a few shots at Isleworth in Orlando, where he lives. Woods collapsed in laughter after a tee shot. He took part in a part of the lesson that involved a putting competition.
Woods has not played competitively since he withdrew after the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic in February because of back spasms. He also missed the Masters and British Open, and he is not playing this week in the PGA Championship at Baltusrol because of the injury.
The video came a day after ESPN reported that Woods is working with the same instructor who once helped him win 14 major championships.
Woods returned to public view when he shot a 7-under 65 in the final round of the PGA Tour’s Target World Challenge a week ago, and his appearance was met with thunderous cheers. He slipped and fell on the stairs leading to the stage, but he returned to finish his press conference with an apology for the slip.
Later, he posted a shot from a practice range with the caption, “No better feeling than getting to go back out there again!!”
Woods announced in April that he had gone to physical therapy and was “doing just fine.” He also revealed in April that he would be working with Chris Como, a psychologist who previously worked with another golfer who is no longer playing competitively — Phil Mickelson.