Tiger Woods became eligible at the end of 2025. Zach Johnson did so on Feb. 24 this year, and he promptly went out and won his first event.
Turning 50 used to mean you were getting old. For some it means a chance to recharge their pro golf careers on the PGA Tour Champions.
While Woods hasn’t yet taken the plunge on the senior circuit (nor, frankly, does he really need to), for many others it’s a renewed sense of purpose, a opportunity to compete and contend once again and also a great way to pad that retirement account.
Ben Crane and Vaughn Taylor have also already turned 50 in 2026. Who’s next on the horizon to turn 50 and become eligible for the PGA Tour Champions?
The next wave still to come in 2026 has a combined 19 PGA Tour wins and an Olympic medal:
Rory Sabbatini, April 2 (6; silver medal)Ryan Palmer, Sept. 19 (4)Richard S. Johnson, Oct. 15 (1)Ryuji Imada, Oct. 19 (1)D.A. Points, Dec. 1 (3)Charley Hoffman, Dec. 27 (4)
Looking ahead to who’s turning 50 in 2027, it’s a bit more of an established group. This list of golfers has a combined 31 PGA Tour wins, including three major championships.
Jason Dufner, March 24 (5 PGA Tour wins; 2013 PGA Championship)Ben Curtis, May 26 (4; 2003 Open Championship)Geoff Ogilvy, June 11 (8; 2006 U.S. Open)Carl Pettersson, Aug. 29 (5)Jim Herman, Nov. 5 (3)Robert Garrigus, Nov. 11 (1)Luke Donald, Dec. 7 (5)
Donald came up short in the majors but he’s a two-time winning captain of the European squad at the Ryder Cup