"Hope he can hold it","Not falling for this trap again": Fans skeptical of Tiger Woods' comeback at PNC Championship

Tiger Woods' career has been marred with injuries, and as a result, fans expressed their skepticism ahead of his return to competitive golf at the 2024 PNC Championship. The tournament is being held at Ritz Carlton Golf Club in Orlando this week, and Woods will play alongside his son Charlie.

Last September, Woods underwent back surgery to repair a nerve impingement and his appearance at the PNC Championship marks his first competitive start since the surgery. Sharing a glimpse of his return via their X (formerly Twitter) handle, NUCLRGOLF shared a video of Woods taking a swing, which drew in various reactions from fans.

"Tiger Woods looking dialed at the PNC 👀"

Some fans expressed their doubt that this would be a lasting comeback. Expressing their skepticism via the comment section, the fans wrote:

"Doesn’t look bad. Hope he can hold it together"

"I’m not falling for this trap again!" another added.

Here are some more fans giving their reactions to Tiger Woods returning to the greens ahead of the Pro-am tournament:

"Say this every time he shows up anywhere, then he posts an 85," one fan posted.

"I feel like this has been said the last few years," another user wrote.

"Every year at this time, same old story. It’s a hit and giggle," another fan said.

"Until he has to walk a few holes then body fails him," another user posted.

Tiger Woods has a long history of injuries that have landed him in the operating room more than 10 times. According to a report by NBC Sports, the 48-year-old has been injured or required surgery 36 times during his 26-year professional golf career.

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Tiger Woods comments on his current health: "It's a lot better"

Tiger Woods played in the Pro-Am event of the PNC Championship on Friday, December 20. After his round, he answered questions from the press and the topic of his health took up a lot of space.

The 15-time major champion talked about his back and said he was feeling "a lot better" (via ASAP Sports):

"It's a lot better, but I still have a long way to go... The recovery is going to be the hardest part. I can do it for a day here and there, but over the course of rounds, weeks, months, it gets harder."

Tiger Woods is making his fifth appearance at the PNC Championship, always with his son Charlie. They have never won, but have finished second once and in the top 5 the other four times.

The recent back surgery put his comeback plans on hold. At the beginning of the 2024 season, Woods mentioned that he intended to design a schedule with a monthly tournament, but so far it is unclear if he maintains the same intention for 2025.

However, many speculate that Woods could try to manage his recovery process to be fit to play in the Masters Tournament next April. He has won five green jackets at Augusta National Golf Club.