Tiger Woods is officialy back in the public eye.
The 15-time major champion made his first public appearance since being handed a five-year driving ban, returning to Stanford Stadium on Friday night to support the Cardinal during their college football matchup against the Miami Hurricanes.
Just days after appearing in court to resolve his latest legal troubles, Woods looked relaxed as he caught up with friends and staffers and took in the game from the sidelines.
Woods Returns to Stanford
Woods, 50, showed up wearing a white Stanford cap along with a wool quarter-zip from his Sun Day Red clothing brand.
The golf superstar appeared to be in good spirits throughout the evening, smiling and laughing as he mingled with people on the sidelines. He was also spotted chatting with Bay Area rap legend E-40 before kickoff.
The appearance marked a return to a place that played a major role in Woods’ rise to golf superstardom.
Before turning professional, Woods won 11 collegiate tournaments while competing for Stanford, cementing his status as one of the university’s most accomplished athletes.
An Awkward Night of College Football
While Woods had plenty of reasons to root for Stanford, Friday’s game came with an interesting twist.
His connection to the Miami Hurricanes has grown in recent years through his relationship with Vanessa Trump.
Vanessa’s 19-year-old daughter, Kai Trump, recently began her freshman year at the University of Miami, where she’s continuing her golf career as a member of the Hurricanes.
Kai, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump, has been sharing glimpses of her new college life on social media, including photos of herself representing her new school.
Unfortunately for Woods’ Stanford loyalty, Miami had the much better night.
The Hurricanes dominated the Cardinal, cruising to a 45-6 victory and leaving Woods to watch his alma mater take a serious beating.
Woods’ Court Appearance Came Days Earlier
Woods’ upbeat appearance at the stadium came just two days after a much more serious outing.
On Wednesday, Woods appeared at the Martin County Courthouse alongside Vanessa as he finalized a plea agreement related to a March rollover crash near his Jupiter Island home.
© TGL Golf via Getty ImagesVanessa was seen holding Woods’ hand as the couple arrived at court, publicly supporting him as he dealt with the legal fallout from the incident.
Woods ultimately pleaded no contest to a reduced reckless-driving charge and refusal to submit to testing, allowing him to avoid jail time under the terms of the agreement.
However, the deal came with a major consequence: Woods’ driver’s license will be suspended for five years.
Donald Trump Weighed In
President Donald Trump also commented publicly on Woods’ case, calling the plea agreement “very fair.”
Trump suggested that Woods should simply have someone else drive him going forward, saying he had previously encouraged the golfer to get a driver.
Trump also pointed out that Woods was not found to have alcohol in his system, while acknowledging the complications surrounding prescription medication and pain.
What Happened in the Crash?
The case stems from a March 27 crash in Jupiter, Florida.
According to police, Woods was driving his Land Rover at a high rate of speed along a beachside road when the SUV clipped a tractor-trailer. The impact caused Woods’ vehicle to roll onto its side and resulted in roughly $5,000 in damage to the truck.
Authorities found two opioid tablets in Woods’ possession at the scene.
© GettyFollowing the crash, Woods spent time in rehab in Switzerland. He had largely stayed out of the public spotlight afterward, making his appearance at Stanford Stadium a notable return to the public eye.
For now, Woods’ golf future remains a separate question from his driving restrictions, but Friday night’s outing showed the legendary golfer back among familiar faces — even if his beloved Cardinal didn’t give him much to celebrate.
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