Where does the GOAT head next? PGA Tour? PGA Tour Champions? Majors and senior majors? Many questions, and it’s complicated.
As Tiger Woods turns 50, the golfing world asks: Quo vadis, Tiger? This question has loomed every year since 2009, through his personal controversies, back injuries, and remarkable comebacks. The tragic car accident in February 2021 nearly ended his career, with severe injuries to his right leg, adding uncertainty to his future in golf.
Woods’ Eligibility for PGA Tour Champions and What It Means
Now eligible to compete on the PGA Tour Champions, Woods can navigate the fairways with a cart without special permission. Yet, despite the eligibility being straightforward, many complexities surround his participation. While his inclusion could elevate the senior tour’s profile tremendously, the circuit faces financial and operational challenges, including a recent $2 million pension cut and no TV partner, enhancing the stakes involved.
Expectations and Complications for Tiger on the Senior Tour
Tour officials are eager and prepared for Woods, with logistics set for his potential appearances. Player Director Steve Flesch hopes Woods might play in five to ten events, highlighting the excitement his participation would bring. However, Woods’ busy schedule, business commitments, charitable work, and family responsibilities make his active competition uncertain. His recent role as an Insperity ambassador, linked with a senior event in Texas, adds layers of scheduling conflicts with concurrent PGA Tour tournaments.
Focus on Senior Majors and The Challenges Ahead
Woods is likely to target senior majors, such as the US Senior Open, where victory would cement his place as the only golfer to win US Junior, US Amateur, US Open, and US Senior Open titles. However, these events do not guarantee cart usage over their 72 holes, presenting physical challenges that Woods must address, potentially invoking ADA accommodations, a notion conflicting with his past refusal of medical exemptions. Ultimately, Woods will compete only when confident of contending to win, embodying the resilient spirit that peers like Justin Thomas admire.