Where is the GOAT heading? PGA Tour? PGA Tour Champions? Majors and senior majors? Many questions, and it’s complicated.
The question ‘Quo vadis, Tiger?’ has been asked almost every year since 2009 when off-course issues came to light, and again in 2014 due to back problems, and most notably in 2019 after his fifth Masters win. The tragic turn occurred on February 23, 2021, with a severe car accident in California that nearly ended his career, shattering his right lower leg and foot. Now 50 years old, Eldrick Tont Woods is eligible to play on the PGA Tour Champions, where over-50 players compete, and he can ride a cart on the fairways without a special exemption.
Woods’ Eligibility and Impact on PGA Tour Champions
Despite excitement about Tiger joining the over-50 circuit, challenges persist. The tour, led by former football executive Brian Rolapp, faces financial constraints including a $2 million cut in its pension fund and no current TV partner. Miller Brady, president of PGA Tour Champions, stated that preparations are in place for Tiger’s participation, but complications abound. Player Director Steve Flesch highlighted hopes Tiger might play five to ten events, with early notification to tournament directors.
Endorsements, Scheduling Conflicts, and Tours Tension
Woods recently became a brand ambassador for Insperity, title sponsor of the Insperity Invitational, a Champions Tour event in Texas held simultaneously with the $20 million Truist Championship on the PGA Tour in North Carolina. This scheduling could cause media and fan attention to split. Such situations are referred to as ‘nightmare scenarios’ by some PGA Tour insiders, with the LIV Golf League also monitoring developments closely due to overlapping events.
Focusing on Senior Majors and Emerging Dilemmas
Tiger is expected to target senior majors and select events hosted by associates like Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk, aiming to regain form and enjoyment. A potential win at the US Senior Open would make him the first golfer to claim all four major US titles: Junior, Amateur, Open, and Senior Open. However, the senior majors are four-day events requiring 72 holes of walking, which Woods may not be physically able to manage. He might need to invoke the Americans with Disabilities Act for cart use, conflicting with his previous refusals of medical exemptions. Woods will only compete if confident in contending for victories, a challenge endorsed by peers like Justin Thomas who believe in his capable comeback.