Tiger Woods will turn 50 in December, and with that milestone comes eligibility for the next stage in professional golf: the PGA Tour Champions. While Woods hasn’t confirmed his plans, the senior circuit is already laying the groundwork for what could be a game-changing moment in the senior Tour’s history.
“The answer is yes, we’re ready. We’re well prepared,” PGA Tour Champions president Miller Brady stated in an interview with Golf Channel. “We’ve done some whiteboarding over the past year in preparation for Tiger turning 50, and if and when he plays, our tournaments will be prepared.”
Woods has hinted at joining the Champions Tour before. At the 2023 Masters, he joked, “I’ve got three more years, where I get the little buggy and be out there with Fred (Couples).” That said, the senior Tour could be historic for Woods, who’s battled severe injuries for much of the last decade.
Most recently, Woods underwent another back surgery, replacing a lumbar disc. While the recovery timeline remains uncertain, one cannot ignore Big Cat’s last competitive appearance was back in 2024 at The Open Championship at Royal Troon. Since then, fans have been waiting for signs of a comeback.
The latest glimmer of hope comes from the tech-infused TGL league, co-founded by Rory McIlroy and Woods himself.
Season 2 of TGL kicks off on Sunday, Dec. 28, just two days before Woods’ 50th birthday. He’s expected to return to the simulator-based competition after missing the entire season last year due to injury. While TGL isn’t a traditional tournament golf, it marks Woods’ first competitive swing since playing for Jupiter Links GC in season 1.
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As Woods’ arrival date in the senior Tour nears, Ernie Els, a longtime rival and friend, made his feelings clear.
“I hope so,” he told reporters in August. “I’ve said, ‘please come play.’ And I think it can only be beneficial to (Woods). He will get himself in golf shape. You can ride a cart without any shame and if there was one guy that should be able to drive a cart, it’s him. And he can get his a– back in shape.”
The 2026 Champions Tour schedule, announced this week, features 28 tournaments and a total prize purse exceeding $69 million, a slight bump from this year’s record-setting payout. That kind of momentum, paired with Woods’ potential entry, could reshape the senior tour’s visibility and appeal.
Brady, however, tempered expectations with empathy.
“To be honest with you,” he said as quoted, “given the last surgery, I just hope that Tiger gets back on his feet and is able to play golf again.”
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