Earlier this month, Tiger Woods announced that he’d undergone yet another back surgery. This time, it was a lumbar disc replacement. So, I and anyone else outside his inner circle would be lying if we said we had any idea when he’s going to be back on the golf course.
However, there’s a pretty big benchmark coming up in less than two months.
Tiger turns 50 on December 30, meaning he’ll be eligible to play on the PGA TOUR Champions. He could be back playing with the guys he dominated 20, 25 years ago—at least those guys know what’s coming this time around.
The 15-time major champion hasn’t committed to playing on the senior circuit, but the opportunity to play with a cart might be too good to pass up. Even in recent comebacks, we’ve seen flashes of the game still being there. It comes down to his body holding up over four days.
Regardless of Tiger’s commitment level to the Champions tour, the circuit is getting ready for his (potential) arrival.
PGA TOUR Champions president Miller Brady joined Golf Channel on Tuesday and confirmed that the league’s been preparing for the GOAT throughout the year.
“The answer is yes, we’re ready. We’re well prepared,” Brady said. “We’ve done some white boarding over the past year in preparation for Tiger turning 50, and if and when he plays, our tournaments will be prepared.”
I probably don’t have to spell it out for you, but everything is bigger and more complicated for tournaments when Tiger comes to town.
“It is going to be more,” Brady said. “And you mentioned it—security, buses, portalettes, concession stands—all of that is taken into account when we prepare for (Woods playing).”
Again, with his recent surgery, no one knows when he’ll be back. All I know is that golf is a whole lot better when Tiger is around, regardless of which tour he plays for.
