Watch Tiger Woods Absolutely Crush His First Drive at Hero World Challenge

Woods hit a 326-yard drive right down the middle, marking his first tee shot since ankle fusion surgery.

It’s official: He’s back. 

At 11:52 a.m. ET Tiger Woods teed off at his invitational event, the Hero World Challenge, and he absolutely crushed his first drive.

On the 438-yard par-4, Woods hit his driver 326 yards, taking the left fairway bunker solidly out of play. His playing partner and friend Justin Thomas missed the fairway into a native area and had to take a penalty drop. 

Woods then hit his 108-yard approach to 15 feet and walked away with a two-putt par. 

The Bahamas event is the first time Woods has teed it up in competition since the Masters in April. Shortly after withdrawing from his 24th career start at Augusta National, Woods had subtalar fusion surgery on his ankle. The procedure addressed issues that stemmed from Woods’s 2021 car crash, in which he suffered multiple injuries in his right leg.  

First hole, first fairway.@TigerWoods’ first round is underway at the Hero World Challenge. pic.twitter.com/4QP1FXFAhD

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 30, 2023

According to Woods, the surgery was a success and his ankle is now pain free, but other areas of his body are taking the “brunt of the load” such as his knee and back. 

Despite his continued recovery process, Woods shared that he hopes to play one tournament a month in 2024.

“I think that best scenario would be maybe a tournament a month,” Woods said. 

“I think that's realistic whether that's—you would have to start with maybe at Genesis and something in March near the Players. Again, we have set up right now the biggest events are one per month. It sets itself up for that. Now, I need to get myself ready for all that. I think this week is a big step in that direction.”

Woods is also committed to playing the PNC Championship alongside his son Charlie next month.