![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/71\/590x\/secondary\/4956109.jpg?r=1694538607216\")
<\/p>\nTiger Woods might not be involved in this month’s Ryder Cup but he has given golf fans a huge boost with hopes that he is about to return to the course. The 15-times Major champion has not been seen in action since he was forced to withdraw after the second round of The Masters at Augusta National in April.<\/p>\n
The 47-year-old then took the decision to go under the knife by having a subtalar fusion procedure in New York, with the goal of fixing a problem caused by a previous fracture of a bone in his ankle joint (talus).<\/p>\n
Woods hoped to be able to play in the other Majors of the season but he has missed the PGA Championship, US Open and Open Championship at Hoylake whilst recovering from surgery, ruining his season.<\/p>\n
But on Tuesday (September 12) it was reported that his golf bag had showed up at the Liberty National Golf Course in New Jersey, where Woods’ foundation is hosting a charity event this week.<\/p>\n
The bag wasn’t there for no reason. Videos soon emerged on social media of Woods on the driving range, doing ‘keep-ups’ with a ball, using one of his irons.<\/p>\n
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He was joined on the range by Rickie Fowler, who after a recent upturn in form has made it into Zach Johnson’s Ryder Cup team, and Will Zalatoris, who has seen his own season blighted by injury problems after also withdrawing from the Masters.<\/p>\n
The only sightings of Woods on a golf course since his August nightmare have been in support of his son Charlie at junior events. Until now.<\/p>\n
As of yet, there is no suggestion that Woods is ready to make a PGA Tour return, but Golf Week speculates that he could possibly compete in the parent\/child PNC Championship alongside his son at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, which is scheduled for December 16-17.<\/p>\n
One place Woods won’t be is in Rome at the Ryder Cup later this month. The American has appeared in eight previous events but his overall record of 13 wins, 21 losses and three halves is a mediocre one.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n However, Team USA captain Zach Johnson has already said that although Woods will not be present at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, he is effectively ‘on call’ for the US team.<\/p>\n Johnson told the Associated Press: “Tiger is very much a part of Team USA and has been for years. He is, for lack of a better term, on call with us. He is very much in the know as to what we\u2019re trying to do.<\/p>\n “We’re going to utilize his wisdom and he’s passionate about the Ryder Cup. He wishes he could be here, but it’s just not in the cards for him physically. And that’s fine. I mean, he is with us. He’s just not here physically.”<\/p>\n Despite injuries and the best days of his career clearly behind him, Woods remains the biggest name in golf and his return to the course will be as hotly anticipated as it ever has been.<\/p>\n
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