Tiger Woods makes first public appearance since DUI arrest
· Yahoo Sports
CROMWELL, Conn. — Tiger Woods made his first public appearance since his car accident and subsequent DUI arrest in March.
The 15-time major champ was at TPC River Highlands on the Tuesday of the Travelers Championship to introduce PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp ahead of his press conference to detail strategic changes coming to the PGA Tour in 2028. After some brief remarks from Woods, Rolapp took the podium and began his speech and Q&A in the course's clubhouse with the following message.
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"Thank you, Tiger," Rolapp said. "I think I speak for all of us, glad to see you back."
Dressed in a navy suit, Woods watched from the side of the room with outgoing PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan as Rolapp detailed the extensive planned changes to the PGA Tour's structure.
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Woods also wore a serious expression for most of the proceedings. However, he did crack a smile and shook his head when reporter Bob Harig asked Rolapp about eligibility questions and whether "would it be fair to assume that you're going to consider one such as having won 80 PGA Tour events or more to be considered among those career achievements to be eligible for those tournaments?"
The question was referencing Woods' record-tying 82 PGA Tour titles.
"I think all those eligibility questions we're in the middle of answering," Rolapp responded. "I think it would be premature to speculate or to give you part of the answer."
Woods did not take any questions from the media. His remarks focused specifically on his involvement with the Future Competitions Committee, has which he has been the chair of since its creation last August.
"Over the past eight months, the Future Competition Committee has spent a lot of time on a very important and fundamental question: How do we build the strongest possible version of the PGA Tour? This work was never about any one player or person. It was about bringing together different perspectives, having honest, hard conversations, and thinking boldly about what is best for the game that we all love.
"It has been a privilege to work with all the committee members and especially my fellow player directors. I'm proud of the work we've done and am grateful to everyone who's contributed along the way. We have to look forward and beyond today and over the horizon to set up the PGA TOUR and our sport for the future generations of players and fans."
Woods briefly came back on the podium with Monahan when PGA Tour Enterprise chairman Joe Gorder announced Rolapp would be succeeding him as commissioner. Woods flashed a big grin and patted Monahan on the back as he took the microphone.
Golf fans hadn't seen much of Woods since his March 27 car crash in Jupiter Island, Fla., which led to him being charged for suspicion of driving under the influence. Four days later, Woods announced on social media he was "stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health."
Woods hasn't played in an official PGA Tour event since the 2024 British Open, but has been involved in the PGA Tour's planned changes. The 50-year-old has chaired the PGA Tour Future Competition Committee since it was formed last August.
"It's great to see him back," Rolapp told reporters on Tuesday after his presentation. "Tiger's been involved throughout the process and is contributing meaningfully. It's awesome to see him back in great form. So we're really excited."