After over two decades, Tiger Woods is finally returning to Fort Worth for a golf event.

Most people in DFW are unaware that Tiger Woods recently visited Fort Worth to “play” on a golf course.

Tiger Woods remains the world’s most renowned golfer by a large margin, and you might spot him in Fort Worth more often this year. He is working on designing and constructing a golf course in Aledo, which is expected to open in early 2026—provided weather conditions allow it.

After years in the inception phase, a plan is finally coming to fruition in west Fort Worth. The Bluejack Ranch in Aledo will be an upscale community featuring a golf course designed by Tiger Woods.

Former TCU golfer and veteran PGA Tour pro J.J. Henry, together with developer Andy Mitchell and his wife Kristin—both also TCU alumni—are spearheading the development of an entire community that will feature homes, villas, an 18-hole golf course, a functional dude ranch with horses and donkeys, a spa, tennis courts, pickleball courts; plus a unique 10-hole “short” golf course. There will also be space for pools among other amenities including facilities such as a state-of-the-art golfing performance center.

It’s akin to what Woods achieved with his Bluejack National course in Montgomery, a community located 54 miles north of Houston, though not an exact replica.

The contractors have commenced work on a project that has exchanged ownership several times over the years. However, it is now stable enough for all parties involved to announce it on Thursday morning.

Mitchell, the founder and CEO of Lantern Capital Partners, met Woods around a decade ago. Together, they played instrumental roles in bringing Bluejack National to life. He invited Woods to Fort Worth to evaluate the property and gauge his interest in designing a course there.

“He spent the day with us, and when he designs a course, he’s truly in his element,” Mitchell mentioned during a phone interview. “We’re fortunate that this land is naturally suited for becoming a golf course. Unlike some areas in DFW where you need to bring in dirt or make adjustments, here everything just falls into place.”

“He truly loves it. He’s exploring the trees, eagerly asking, ‘Are we going to do this?’ He has been an amazing partner. We’re the same age, and he reached a stage where he wanted to broaden his impact on the game.”

The course is expected to be completed by early 2026, but the remainder of the development—which is substantial—will continue for some time. Henry mentioned that it will take seven to ten years before the entire development is finished.

This development covers 914 acres and is situated off U.S. 377 and Kelly Ranch Road, within the Aledo Independent School District.

Interestingly, despite being a golfer with deep roots in the sport’s history, Woods had moved on from DFW years ago. He participated in the PGA Tour event at Colonial only once—in 1997 during his debut year on the Tour. That same July marked the passing of golf legend and Fort Worth local Ben Hogan, who was instrumental in elevating this event to fame. After that year, Woods never returned to it again.

Woods consistently took part in the Byron Nelson PGA Tour event during its time at Las Colinas. Notably, he failed to make the cut at the 2005 Byron Nelson, ending a remarkable streak of seven years and 142 consecutive tournaments where he had made it past the cut.

That was the year when many of the PGA Tour’s leading players made it a point to participate in that tournament, primarily as a gesture of gratitude toward legend Nelson, who consistently supported the event named after him. Nelson passed away in September 2006. The 2005 Byron Nelson marked Woods’ last appearance at an event in DFW.

The Bluejack Ranch development, spanning over 900 acres near Aledo, intends to incorporate a significant amount of the natural surroundings into its Tiger Woods-designed golf course.

At 48, Woods is following in the footsteps of Jack Nicklaus from decades ago. “Nicklaus Design” has grown into one of the most renowned names in golf course design globally.

“Tiger and Jack are among the greatest golfers in history, but what does it take to build a legacy that transcends merely playing?” said Henry, who has known Tiger since their junior days and followed him through college into professional golf. “Tiger’s first U.S. course was Bluejack National, making this moment feel like coming full circle.”

Known from the Sea of Japan to the Sea of Tranquility, “TGR Design” is poised to become a leading name in golf course design worldwide. The fact that their next project will be in Fort Worth is just one of those fortunate coincidences.

Henry has dedicated years to this work, enlisting the expertise of several professionals. Among them is Mark Brooks, a Texas alum and former PGA Tour pro. Now residing in Austin, Brooks often travels to Fort Worth and serves as a “senior advisor” for the project. His involvement is complemented by his own “golf experience” venture in Austin, which provides him with valuable experience on similar initiatives.

“This brings together numerous small elements from various places I’ve been fortunate to visit throughout my career,” Henry remarked. “The goal is to integrate all of them into a single location.”

Mitchell, a Western Hills High School graduate and former caddie at Colonial Country Club, is optimistic about encouraging the TCU golf team to utilize this new course. While it may not serve as their home course—something TCU currently lacks—he hopes to establish some form of affiliation with them.

Henry hopes this new course will resemble The Traditions Club in Bryan, just as it serves Texas A&M. The Aggies men’s and women’s golf teams consider Traditions their home course.

TCU’s top choice for a home course is Colonial due to its convenient location near the campus. However, establishing this partnership requires time and effort. Both parties are interested in pursuing it, with plans underway to construct a performance center at the club. Nonetheless, as shown by developments like those at Bluejack Ranch, such projects can take considerable time to come to fruition.