The last few years for Tiger Woods have been painstakingly tedious. Ever since his accident in February 2021, Woods has not been allowed to go back to the best version of himself due to the limitations of his body. His strokeplay has still been good enough to allow him to compete. But the major challenge he has faced has been walking across a 72-par field.
However, the size of the course won’t be an issue once Woods shifts to the PGA Tour Champions. The PGA Tour Champions allows players to use a golf cart to travel around the course. Senior players can move from hole to hole in a golf cart in most of the events in the league.
Tiger Woods turns 50 on December 30, 2025. That means that he will be eligible to play in the senior tour events from the following season. However, reports have suggested that he might join the tour even sooner.
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According to the tabloids, the PGA Tour Champions might consider lowering the age criteria to attract younger talent. The minimum age requirement might be dropped from 50 years to 46 years. That means Tiger Woods will be able to join the likes of rival Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, and others from next year itself.
It won’t come as a surprise if either of the situation happens as lowering the age criteria and having Tiger Woods on the Tour will greatly benefit the PGA Tour Champions. Moreover, less physical stress might also turn into the second coming of Tiger Woods. We just might see him come back to his best and dominate the senior’s tour.
The 82X PGA Tour champion has previously hinted at the possibility of joining the senior league. In fact, fellow golf legend, Jack Nicklaus shared some insights about it during Sir Nick Faldo’s podcast. Acknowledging Woods’s ability, Jack Nicklaus said, “[Tiger] actually can still hit the ball pretty well.” He continued to discuss the real issue that bothers the Jupiter local: “But he can’t walk. He can’t walk. And I told him, ‘Tiger, you’re eligible to take a cart.’ He says, ‘I’m not going to do that.’ He says, ‘When I get to the senior tour, I will.'”
Woods also discussed the issue during a press conference before the 2023 Masters. Speaking about his skills on the course, he said, “The ability and endurance of what my leg will do going forward will never be the same, I understand that.” He further added, “I just have to be cognizant of how much I can push it. Like Rory [McIlroy] was saying, I can hit a lot of shots, but the difficulty for me is going to be the walking going forward.” Hinting at what the future looks like for himself, Woods said, “I’ve got three more years, where I get the little buggy and be out there with Fred, but until then, no buggy.”
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61-year-old Rocco Mediate also shared his views about the possibility of Tiger Woods joining the PGA Tour Champions. He said, “I can’t wait. What else are you gonna do? That’d be the only thing I’d say to him.” Speaking about Woods’s health, Mediate further added, “If he’s healthy, he can still compete on the regular tour as long as he wants. But if he’s not, he can ride around in a cart out here, which he’ll do because it’s OK out here … and it’s competition, and it’s another era to break all the records.” Mediate, who was at the losing end of a rivalry with Woods in the 2008 U.S. Open, also said, “It’d be great to have him back, and he’ll have a ball. It’s all his buddies. It’s all his friends.”
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Some other golfers have also spoken about Tiger Woods’s PGA Tour Champions calling. Let’s see what they had to say.
Opinions about Tiger Woods’s strokeplay
Coming back to Tiger Woods’s press conference prior to the 2023 Masters Tournament, he stated that Rory McIlroy commented on the former’s chances of winning the major. Here’s what the world no. 3 said, “If he didn’t have to walk up these hills and have all of that, I’d say he’d be one of the favorites. He’s got all of the shots. It’s just that physical limitation of walking 72 holes, especially on a golf course as hilly as this.”
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Padraig Harrington also shared how Tiger Woods suggested that he would be joining the PGA Tour Champions. Harrington said, “I saw him at the course [during the PNC Championship] and we were just crossing paths and he laughed at me. I won’t say exactly what he said but the gist of it was he can’t wait to get out and beat me.” He also mentioned how “[Tiger Woods would] love to win that Grand Slam and get some of the other senior majors on his CV.”
Just one more year title Tiger Woods turns 50. Who knows what we might witness once he gains access to the golf cart? Do you think we will get to see the best of Tiger Woods once again when he starts playing in the PGA Tour Champions? Share your views in the comments section.
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Will Tiger Woods' move to the senior tour reignite his legendary dominance in golf?
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Will Tiger Woods' move to the senior tour reignite his legendary dominance in golf?
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