Tiger Woods caused a divide among fans with his latest public appearance following his DUI arrest and rehab stay.
While the pro golfer appeared in good spirits while honoring retired golfer Notah Begay in a pre-recorded video during the Payne Stewart Award ceremony on Tuesday, fans became concerned over how Woods looked in the clip, with one writing via X, “Tiger looks a shell of his former self.”
“He looks very different,” another added, as a concerned fan claimed he “looked spaced out.”
Others defended Woods, telling critics that he looked “normal” and “healthy.”
“Clearly sober here. Nice to see,” a third chimed in, as a fourth supporter gushed, “Wow, Tiger looks great.”
In the video, Woods said, “Hey, Notah. It’s been an unbelievable ride with you. You first came into my life when I was 11 years old, playing in the junior world and you came to watch me play. Our friendship has started there and never ended.”
Woods, 50, praised Begay’s work on the course for winning “four times on tour” and “playing in the President’s Cup.”
“But to see what you’ve done off the course and for your local Native American communities, you’ve helped over 80,000 youths and their families, which is absolutely incredible,” the athlete continued.
“I just think more people need to know what you’ve done and how you’ve served, and you’ve given back to the tribal lands and what you have done,” he added, noting that “there are so many people out there who are struggling in those communities.”
Woods has notably strayed away from entering the public eye since he was arrested for driving under the influence following a rollover accident in Jupiter Island, Florida, in March.
At the time, officers claimed that he showed “signs of impairment” and refused to take a urinary test. They also noted that he blew a negative breathalyzer test.
However, “two white pills” were later found in Woods’ pocket, identified as the narcotic pain reliever hydrocodone.
Woods pleaded not guilty to the charges against him on March 31, and flew to a rehab facility in Switzerland on April 3, where he stayed on and off until mid-June.
Following his rehab stay, an insider told People that Woods was under a “great deal of stress.”
“I don’t know when it will be or how he will do it, but Tiger is determined to return [to golf],” the source said. “He has to get his pain management going in the right direction and also be able to continue a fitness routine, which will help him do the best he can when seriously playing golf. This could be tough. But it’s something he wants.”
Additionally, Woods had stayed in contact with his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, who revealed her breast cancer diagnosis in May.
Read the full article here
