Where is the GOAT headed next? PGA Tour? PGA Tour Champions? Majors and Senior Majors? Many questions remain, and it’s complicated.
Year after year since 2009, the question \”Quo vadis, Tiger?\”—Where are you going, Tiger?—has lingered. From scandals to injuries, including the back issues after 2014, to triumphant comebacks like the 2019 Masters win—the 15th major—Tiger Woods has defied expectations time and again. The defining moment came on February 23, 2021, when he survived a severe car accident in California that nearly cost him his right leg, deeply impacting his competitive career.
Quo Vadis, Tiger: Eligibility for PGA Tour Champions and the Real Situation
Now turning 50, Eldrick Tont Woods, born December 30, 1975, is officially eligible to compete on the PGA Tour Champions. This senior circuit allows players over 50 to compete, often riding carts during play. While this would seem a natural next step, the reality is more complex, with numerous factors intertwining with his physical condition and the significance of his milestone birthday.
\”It would be exciting to see Tiger play on the Champions Tour, and I believe he would participate in several tournaments. He is a captivating personality, and it would be fantastic for Tiger and our tour if he competed here. I think all players would welcome him.\”
Bernhard Langer
Tiger’s Impact and the Challenges Facing the PGA Tour Champions
The PGA Tour Champions circuit is eager for a star of Tiger’s stature, as it promises to boost TV ratings and sponsor interest, which have been declining. However, the tour now operates under a stricter commercial regime led by Brian Rolapp and faces financial constraints, including a pension fund cut and lack of a TV partner. Miller Brady, the tour president, has said preparations are complete to accommodate Tiger’s arrival but acknowledges there are many complications involved.
\”At every meeting, we hope he will play. We agree he might compete in about five events, and if we get ten out of him, that would be fantastic. We also hope he informs the tournament officials earlier than just before the event weekend.\”
Steve Flesch, Player Director PGA Tour Champions
Tiger’s Future Focus: Senior Majors and Unique Dilemmas
Woods is likely targeting events like the US Senior Open as well as tournaments hosted by friends, such as Steve Stricker’s American Family Insurance Championship and the Hoag Classic. A win at the US Senior Open would make him the first player to claim all major US golf championships: US Junior, US Amateur, US Open, and US Senior Open, surpassing legends like Bobby Jones. Yet this journey presents challenges, including the requirement to walk 72 holes in senior majors, conflicting with Woods’ current physical limitations, unless he invokes the Americans with Disabilities Act. This conflicts with his personal ethos, as he has consistently declined medical