Tiger Woods makes surprise appearance at White House, fans wonder why

Tiger Woods has now visited the White House twice this year. His first appearance came in February during Black History Month celebrations and included discussions around the LIV Golf–PGA Tour merger, talks that now appear to be on pause. His second visit came Thursday, just two months after he confirmed his relationship with Vanessa Trump.

Woods was spotted in a photo posted by Senator Jim Banks, who captioned it, “Met Tiger Woods at the White House today!” The 15-time major champion wore a navy-blue suit and stood beside the Indiana senator, fueling online speculation around the purpose of his visit, particularly given his continued absence from the PGA Tour .


a romance with presidential links

In March, Woods, 49, and Vanessa Trump, 47, publicly confirmed they were dating, sharing a post that read, “Love is in the air.” Nearly a month later, former president Donald Trump commented on the relationship, saying, “We have a very special, very good relationship with Tiger... I played golf with him a couple of times over the last month.”

Trump added: “He’s a fantastic guy and a fantastic athlete, and he told me about it, and I said, ‘Tiger, that’s good.’” He also urged the media to respect their privacy, stating, “Let them be happy.”

A source close to the couple told Newsweek, “They’re a good match; they’re level-headed, they like to avoid drama, and they share a lot of the same values.” The insider also noted that while the relationship is “not too serious” at the moment, it is “heading in that direction.”

fans react amid his continued golf absence

Woods has yet to play competitively in 2025. His last appearance was at the Genesis Invitational — an event he hosts — though it was overshadowed by the passing of his mother. He was expected to return at the Masters, a tournament he’s won five times, but suffered a ruptured Achilles while training at home.

Fans were surprised to see him at the White House instead of the PGA Championship, where his absence continues. One fan simply commented, “Awkward,” as others echoed similar sentiments across social media.

While Tiger’s comeback remains uncertain, his son, Charlie Woods, 16, is gaining attention on the junior golf circuit. Charlie recently played in the U.S. Open qualifiers in Florida, finishing three-over-par, seven strokes shy of qualification, but continued to show signs of progress in his game.