Where is the GOAT headed next? PGA Tour? PGA Tour Champions? Majors and Senior Majors? Many questions, and it’s complicated.
Quo vadis, Tiger? This question could be asked every year since 2009, when his extramarital issues surfaced. Since 2014, after a promising season in 2013 was derailed by his frail back. Since 2019, when his triumphant fifth Masters win and 15th major silenced the skeptics who said, ‘They Never Come Back.’ But the defining moment was the tragic car accident on February 23, 2021, which nearly ended his career and his right leg.
Woods’ Eligibility for PGA Tour Champions and the Reality
Eldrick Tont Woods is now 50 years old, born on December 30, 1975, in Long Beach, California. This milestone grants him eligibility to compete on the PGA Tour Champions, where he may use a cart without special permission. However, the situation is more complex due to his physical condition and the broader context of his career.
\”It would be exciting to see Tiger play on the Champions Tour, and I am sure he will compete in several tournaments. He is a fascinating personality and a great asset to our tour. I believe all players would welcome him.\”
Bernhard Langer
Potential Impact and Challenges for PGA Tour Champions
While Tiger’s arrival could bring attention and fans to the over-50 circuit, the PGA Tour Champions faces financial challenges, including a recent $2 million pension fund cut and lacking a TV partner. Miller Brady, the Tour’s president, has prepared for Tiger’s participation, ensuring logistics like security and facilities are ready. Yet, complications remain.
\”At every meeting, we hope he plays. We agree he might play five tournaments, and getting ten from him would be fantastic. We also hope he informs tournament directors earlier than Friday night before the event.\”
Steve Flesch, Player Director of PGA Tour Champions
Tiger’s competitive draw is well known, but the regular PGA Tour is unlikely to share that spotlight easily. His recent role as brand ambassador for Insperity, sponsor of a Champions Tour event, illustrates overlapping commitments with PGA Tour tournaments, raising scheduling conflicts.
Focus on Senior Majors and the Next Dilemma
Woods is likely to target senior major championships like the US Senior Open, where a win would mark him as the first golfer to claim all the major US titles across different age groups. However, these majors are four-day events without guaranteed cart usage, which Woods cannot physically manage without invoking the Americans with Disabilities Act – a step that contradicts his past rejections of medical exemptions.
\”I told him to come play with us; it can only be good for him. He’ll get into golf shape. There’s no shame in using a cart, and if anyone deserves it, it’s him.\”
Ernie Els