Where is the GOAT headed next? PGA Tour? PGA Tour Champions? Majors or Senior Majors? Many questions remain complicated.
Quo vadis, Tiger? This question has been posed almost every year since 2009, when his off-course issues came to light. Then in 2014, after a strong performance the previous year, Tiger was sidelined by a debilitating back injury. In 2019, he silenced doubters with a triumphant fifth Masters and 15th major, proving the mantra “They Never Come Back” wrong and reminding the world not to count out the GOAT.
However, everything changed drastically on February 23, 2021, when Tiger Woods survived a severe car accident in California, which nearly cost him his right lower leg and foot. This incident drastically altered the course of his sporting career.
Quo vadis, Tiger: Eligibility for the Over-50 Circuit
Now 50 years old, Eldrick Tont Woods, born December 30, 1975, in Long Beach, California, is officially eligible to compete on the PGA Tour Champions. This means he can now cruise the fairways in a cart without special exemptions, seemingly a straightforward transition.
“It would be exciting to see Tiger play on the Champions Tour, and I am confident he will compete in several events. He is a very intriguing personality, and it would be fantastic for both Tiger and the tour if he played here. I believe all players would welcome him.”
Bernhard Langer
Significant Boost for the PGA Tour Champions
The over-50 circuit eagerly anticipates Tiger’s potential arrival, which would bring heightened ratings and fan engagement, essential for TV and sponsorship interests amid a dramatic reduction in PGA Tour financial support. The tour, now managed by pragmatic ex-American Football executive Brian Rolapp and driven by investor interests in PGA Tour Enterprises, faces many challenges.
Miller Brady, president of the PGA Tour Champions, assured that all preparations—from security to facilities—are in place for Tiger’s participation. Yet, complexities abound.
“At every meeting, we hope he plays. We agree he might compete in about five tournaments, and ten would be fantastic. If he starts, we hope for earlier tournament notification than the usual Friday evening.”
Steve Flesch, Player Director, PGA Tour Champions
Ultimately, the hope is simple: that Tiger recovers fully and returns to golf, a hope shared by the PGA Tour in Ponte Vedra Beach, which recognizes his immense drawing power and is cautious about sharing it with the Champions Tour.
Insperity Sponsorship and Scheduling Conflicts
Tiger recently became a brand ambassador for Insperity, the digital workforce management company and title sponsor of the Insperity Invitational, a Champions Tour event held in May in The Woodlands, Texas. The tournament coincides with the PGA Tour’s lucrative Truist Championship at Quail Hollow in North Carolina, creating scheduling challenges.
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