Tiger Woods has stayed out of the public’s eye since his DUI in March which led to an arrest, but a pre-recorded video message to a fellow former pro golfer has some fans worried about him.
Woods was seen in a pre-recorded video to Notah Begay during the Payne Stewart Award ceremony on Tuesday night, where he congratulated Begay on his “unbelievable ride” in golf.
“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 said in the video. “To see what you’ve done off the golf course – I know you’ve won four times on the tour, 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. What an amazing job at the sports complex in San Felipe.”
Begay was the recipient of the prestigious Payne Stewart Award, which recognizes the character, sportsmanship and philanthropic work of a professional golfer by the PGA Tour.
“You’ve done an amazing job,” Woods 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. There are so many people out there who are struggling in those communities and you’re trying to raise the bar to allow them to go on and achieve a lot more in life and have the successes that I think they deserve and you feel they deserve.
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“Again, thank you for coming to see my play. Thank you for getting our friendship started and I love you dude.”
While Woods’ message was a heartwarming one to a friend, some fans reacted to the video on social media with some worry, especially with his appearance.
“Geez, Tiger doesn’t look so good,” one X user wrote about the 50-year-old who was sporting some facial hair.
“Tiger looks a shell of his former self sadly,” another user wrote.
Some, though, were more supportive of Woods, with one saying, “He looks normal. Off the steroids and painkillers hopefully.”
Woods was involved in yet another rollover car crash, this time on Jupiter Island in Florida in March of 2026. He was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, where officers allegedly found two opioid pills in his pocket.
After his arrest video caused national headlines, Woods was granted the ability to leave the country and enter a rehabilitation center in Switzerland in April. He later returned in May, where he’s remained private before this rare appearance for Begay.
Woods previously introduced PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp at a monumental news conference for the golf organization late last month, his first appearance since returning from treatment. Woods has served as a leader on the Tour’s Future Competition Committee, which he called a “privilege” during his brief introduction of Rolapp.
Woods must still make a court appearance for his DUI on Sept. 8.
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