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Tiger Woods topped the PGA Tour’s Player Impact Program (PIP) in 2024 for the third time in four years, marking the end of the program that started in 2020-2021 to identify those who generate the most positive interest in the tour.

The tour announced the 2024 rankings to players in late November, but the memo from SVP Jason Gore was only viewed by SBJ over the weekend.

Woods played just five official events in 2024, spanning the four majors and the Genesis Invitational. His only made cut and best finish was a 60th place finish at the Masters.

Woods stayed largely out of the public eye in 2024. He became a central voice in the negotiations between the PGA Tour and PIF, though he stayed mostly behind the scenes. Woods launched his Sun Day Red brand in Q1, and his former agent Hughes Norton also released his book “Rainmaker,” which detailed Woods’ early years.

Unsurprisingly, Scottie Scheffler finished second behind Woods after he won seven tour events, as well as the tour-sanctioned Hero World Challenge and Olympic Gold Medal.

Scheffler won the Players Championship, the Masters and was en route to possibly winning the PGA Championship before being arrested prior to his second round on Friday morning outside Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. Scheffler eventually played his round that day, and though he did not win the tournament, his popularity skyrocketed in the months following. The tour recently released its own documentary on Scheffler with “Scottie 24.”

Rory McIlroy, who topped the rankings in 2023, finished third in 2024.

The PIP pool was cut in half in 2024, totaling $50M, meaning Woods pocketed $10M for finishing first. McIlroy made $15M by winning it in 2023. For 2024, Scheffler will make $8M and McIlroy $4.5M. Also, the tour only ranked the top 10 players in 2024 compared to 20 the year prior.

The end of the PIP comes as the tour introduced its Player Equity Program (PEP) starting this season, which began this past week in Hawaii. Under the PEP, all tour members are eligible for recurring equity grants. The program is providing a recurring $100M annual grant this year through 2030. According to the memo, that grant will be divided among “approximately 20 top performers each year based on last three-year performance, last year performance, as well as measurement criteria that have been used in the Player Impact Program.”

Tiger Woods
The PIP criteria is based on: Internet Searches, Earned Media, TV Sponsor Exposure, General Population Awareness and Golf Fan Awareness.

The PGA Tour did not comment.

2024 PGA Tour PIP rankings

Table with 3 columns and 10 rows.
1 Tiger Woods $10M
2 Scottie Scheffler $8M
3 Rory McIlroy $4.5M
4 Xander Schauffele $4.5M
5 Jordan Spieth $4.5M
6 Collin Morikawa $4.5M
7 Shane Lowry $3.5M
8 Justin Thomas $3.5M
9 Tommy Fleetwood $3.5M
10 Wyndham Clark $3.5M

Tiger Woods and his son, Charlie, created some excitement at the PNC Championship on Sunday when the young golfer made a hole in one during the tournament.

The Woods tandem finished in second place in the event, losing in a playoff to Bernhard and Jason Langer. It was the second straight year the Langers won the tournament.

Tiger Woods was then seen in a warm embrace with his ex-wife Elin Nordegren, who is the mother of Charlie. Sam Woods, their daughter, served as the caddie for them during the event.

Woods and Nordegren haven’t exactly been close since their high-profile divorce nearly 15 years ago. The two were seen together earlier this year to celebrate Charlie after his high school won the Class 1A state golf championship in Florida.

Woods and Nordegren were a part of a high-profile split in 2010 when Woods revealed his infidelity following a single-vehicle crash near their Florida home. They have two children together, and the source told People their tensions have cooled in recent years for the sake of their children.

Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren

“She would never go back with him but likes that he is a good father. She has seen that over the years, which worked them into a good relationship. They co-parent pretty well,” the source told the magazine back in March.

“Of course, she needs to be very confident that the children are safe and happy around anyone that Tiger is with, especially if the romance becomes serious,” the source added. “To that degree, she is very interested. But not on much else.”

Nordegren has been dating retired tight end Jordan Cameron for the last few years.

Woods broke up with Erica Herman, who then filed a lawsuit against him. She dropped the lawsuit in November 2023.

Tiger Woods and his son, Charlie, created some excitement at the PNC Championship on Sunday when the young golfer made a hole in one during the tournament.

The Woods tandem finished in second place in the event, losing in a playoff to Bernhard and Jason Langer. It was the second straight year the Langers won the tournament.

Tiger Woods was then seen in a warm embrace with his ex-wife Elin Nordegren, who is the mother of Charlie. Sam Woods, their daughter, served as the caddie for them during the event.

Woods and Nordegren haven’t exactly been close since their high-profile divorce nearly 15 years ago. The two were seen together earlier this year to celebrate Charlie after his high school won the Class 1A state golf championship in Florida.

Woods and Nordegren were a part of a high-profile split in 2010 when Woods revealed his infidelity following a single-vehicle crash near their Florida home. They have two children together, and the source told People their tensions have cooled in recent years for the sake of their children.

Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods 

“She would never go back with him but likes that he is a good father. She has seen that over the years, which worked them into a good relationship. They co-parent pretty well,” the source told the magazine back in March.

“Of course, she needs to be very confident that the children are safe and happy around anyone that Tiger is with, especially if the romance becomes serious,” the source added. “To that degree, she is very interested. But not on much else.”

Nordegren has been dating retired tight end Jordan Cameron for the last few years.

Woods broke up with Erica Herman, who then filed a lawsuit against him. She dropped the lawsuit in November 2023.

Winner of 82 PGA Tour titles and 41 European Tour trophies – including 15 Major championships – Tiger Woods has been a serial victor across his career no matter the format or who organized the event.

However, bookmakers apparently do not expect his success to carry into the inaugural season of TGL this year, with each of the other five teams in the competition possessing shorter odds than Woods’ Jupiter Links GC.

Given they have two players outside the world’s top-800 and none who qualified for the Tour Championship last season, their status as rank outsiders is perfectly understandable.

Woods is World No.1124 with only a handful of starts in the past 12 months while Kevin Kisner is at World No.827 and could be winding down his playing days after being confirmed as Golf Channel’s Lead Analyst for 2025. Plus, neither Max Homa (No.41) nor Tom Kim (No.21) start 2025 inside the top-20 after frustrating campaigns last term.

They have been priced at +600 by BetMGM, with Los Angeles GC noted down as the early favorites to etch their names into the history books as the first winners (+350). World No.4 Collin Morikawa leads Tommy Fleetwood (No.9), Sahith Theegala (No.13) and Justin Rose (No.47) into battle in the tech-infused league.

LA’s average world ranking is currently 18.25, but that is almost double the joint-second favorites – Boston Common Golf Club – whose team possesses an average world ranking of just 9.75.

World No.3 Rory McIlroy heads an extremely strong quartet which also includes Hideki Matsuyama (No.6), Keegan Bradley (No.12) and Adam Scott (No.18). They are priced at +400 – as are state rivals – New York Golf Club, despite the latter only being able to boast the fifth-best average world ranking position and 2024 FedEx Cup finishing position.

Averaging 39.5 in terms of world rankings and 47.25 in relation to the 2024 FedEx Cup, New York’s squad is made up of Xander Schauffele (No.2), Cameron Young (No.39), Matt Fitzpatrick (No. 42) and Rickie Fowler (No.72).

Tiger Woods

New York will be in action against The Bay Golf Club in week one of TGL 2025, slated for Tuesday, January 7, with the California-themed side fifth favorites for the crown at +500 ahead of Atlanta Drive GC (+450).

World No.5 Ludvig Aberg and World No.7 Wyndham Clark will be ably supported by Shane Lowry (No.27) and Min Woo Lee (No.49) in 2025, with an average world ranking of 22 meaning The Bay possibly represent very good value for an outside pick.

Atlanta Drive – represented by the all-US quartet of Patrick Cantlay (World No.11), Billy Horschel (No.16), Justin Thomas (No.19), and Lucas Glover (No.50) – are fourth favorites, but the betting odds remain extremely tight before a ball has been struck as a result of the numerous unknowns.

Each competitor will have to aclimatize themselves to the new surroundings and tactical nuances of the league while teams work out which players might thrive best in different formats of the fast-paced event.

As a result, the sides with higher-ranked golfers in could fall behind the eight ball early if they are slower to understand how best to implement their strategy.

Woods’ side is not expected to reach the playoffs come March, given Jupiter Links’ average OWGR is 503.25 and half of the team is not playing regularly, however, the 49-year-old walked both days at December’s PNC Championship and almost brought home the title alongside son Charlie via some clutch strokes.

Plus, in the build-up to that event, Woods was filmed hammering drives into the giant screen at SoFi Centre, Florida, so it remains a very real possibility that the Californian might continue to surprise people just a few months on from his latest back surgery.

TGL BETTING ODDS 2025

Team Odds Avg. OWGR Avg. FedEx Cup Finishing Position 2024
Los Angeles GC +350 18.25 21.75
Boston Common GC +400 9.75 10.75
New York GC +400 39.5 47.25
Atlanta Drive GC +450 24 28.75
The Bay GC +500 22 24.5
Jupiter Links GC +600 503.25 131.75

Outright winner odds are via Bet MGM.

Average positions correct as of Jan 1, 2025.

Tiger Woods was the man when it came to golf. Every golf fan, no matter how young or old is aware of his journey. With 82 PGA Tour wins, out of which fifteen are major championships, he simply was the GOAT. Arguably, still is. His game might have deteriorated due to his physical health, but his fans still remember him for all the accolades he has achieved. By the time he was five years old, Woods was already playing golf at a competitive level.

He began participating in junior tournaments and quickly rose through the ranks. His first notable victory came at the age of eight when he won the 1994 Junior World Golf Championships. Well, recently one of his throwback videos has made it all over the internet. Jamie Kennedy took to his official X account and shared a video of Tiger Woods walking in the Meridian Golf Club as a part of the 1990 US Amateur. He wore a green, full-sleeved shirt, paired with a pair of black cargo pants, and had his white cap on.

His aura was simply unbeatable, even when he was just fourteen years old. Kennedy captioned the post, “Tiger and his caddie. 1990 US Amateur. How am I just seeing this footage now?!?” This was in sheer astonishment. While Tiger Woods’s presence was, of course, charming, it was not him that garnered all the attention. It was his caddie, who is approximately the size of a Mountain Man, that caught his attention.

The world is not sure as to who the bagman is but he left everyone, including Kennedy, wondering who he was and why Tiger Woods did not stick with him as a caddie.

Tiger Woods’s former caddie was. dubbed as Hank Williams Jr.

Hank Williams Jr., the legendary American singer, has a rugged and distinctive appearance that perfectly complements his country-rock persona. Known for his thick, full beard and signature sunglasses, he often sports shoulder-length, unkempt dark hair, which has grayed with age. His athletic build and confident posture give him a strong, commanding presence, whether performing or in casual settings. His style blends country and rock elements, often seen in denim jeans, boots, leather jackets, and occasionally a cowboy hat, reflecting his down-to-earth yet rebellious vibe.

Tiger Woods

Well, Tiger Woods’s caddie from the video pretty much had everything except the boots and the leather jacket. Had he worn those, he would definitely look like the musician. Taking to this, one of them wrote, “Hank Williams jr on the bag”. While another wrote, “That caddie is legit. Someone needs to find this dude. 😂”

Tiger Woods has been a legend ever since he was in his teens. One significant moment from Tiger Woods’s career during the 90s was at the 1990 Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego. At just 14 years old, Woods dominated the boys’ 15-17 age group, finishing with an impressive margin of victory. This victory was a key milestone in his early career, showcasing his exceptional talent and potential. What made this achievement even more remarkable was that Woods became the youngest player to win the prestigious tournament at that time. Taking to this, one of them commented, “Tiger was so good he could just grab a bum off the street on the way to the course to carry his clubs for him.”

Another made a joke out of Tiger Woods’s insane transformation from being a skinny kid to a well-built man and sarcastically wrote, “Today’s Tiger probably has more muscle weight than the weight of this caddie and young Tiger combined.”  While another simply wrote, “Amazing. We weren’t ready,” looking at the video.

What are your thoughts about his caddie from the 1990 US Amateur? Let us know in the comments section below!

Charlie Woods may only be 15 years old, but the golf prodigy is already showing uncanny signs that, when it comes to mentality and motivation, he’s just like his famous father, Tiger, 49.

Having Charlie around the golf scene appears to have given Tiger a new lease on life as he can barely contain a smile whenever his son is around, and that was evident this month, when the teenager sunk a blind, 176-yard hole-in-one at the PNC Championship in which he and Tiger formed a team that pushed Bernard Langer and son Jason all the way to a playoff, before eventually succumbing to the Germans, who won with a -28 score.

Young Charlie has uncanny ability for his age, but it’s also the mental side of the game that he appears to have inherited from Tiger.

Charlie Woods Reveals Tiger-Like Mentality With Latest Golf Comments

Young Woods showed earlier this year that he has a strong mentality as he recovered from a bogey-double bogey start at Eagle Trace Golf Club, meaning he was +3 after two holes, but by keeping his score clean for the remaining 16 holes, and hitting birdies when he had the opportunities, that he was able to grind out a -1 score and qualify for his first USGA championship.

Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods 

Tiger Woods was a nine-time USGA champion as he won three consecutive junior amateur championships, three US amateur championships, and three US Open titles as a pro. Now, Charlie wants to emulate that.

“The USGA means a lot to me,” he said.

“I want to win USGA Championships and hopefully one day the US Open.”

There have been 10 father-son combos in golf that feature family members who have both won PGA Tour tournaments. Though Charlie and Tiger are already an attraction, and budding icons, they have some way to go to match the exploits of, say, Willie Park and Willie Park Jr, who, combined, won six Open Championships between them.

Charlie Woods can bomb a driver, has an athletic swing, and arguably has the finest confidente he could possibly have in the game, in Tiger. But many children of legendary golfers have struggled to even stay on the tour for more than a few years, let alone win a tour event or a major. Few, though, would dare bet against Woods.

If expectations were low for Tiger Woods ahead of the 2025 season, perhaps those were elevated when he and Charlie Woods finished runner-up at the 2024 PNC Championship.

Woods had microdecompression surgery on his lower back Sept. 13 to relieve nerve impingement and back pain and hasn’t played competitively since the Open Championship at Royal Troon in July, where he missed the cut. But now, it’s almost 2025, and it’s time to look and predict where Tiger will tee it up in 2025.

In 2024, he said he wanted to play once a month. While he has been bullish on what his schedule will look like in 2025, it’s worth a shot to be aggressive in predicting where he could play next year.

What might his schedule look like in 2025? Let’s take a look.

TGL

If we know one thing for sure, Tiger will have five appearances in the TGL: Jan. 14, Jan. 27, Feb. 18, Feb. 25 and March 4. The good thing, that schedule doesn’t interfere with any of these projected PGA Tour starts.

Farmers Insurance Open

Stretch No. 1. Tiger hasn’t played in a non-major, sans the Genesis Invitational and Hero World Challenge, since 2020. But Torrey Pines is a place Tiger loves, it doesn’t interfere with his TGL schedule and would be a good place to kick off his year.

Genesis Invitational

This one is almost a guarantee. If Tiger can play at Riviera Country Club in his event, he will.

Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods

 

Players Championship

Stretch No. 2. The TGL season will be completed by then, and if Tiger has gotten through two PGA Tour events by this point, the Players would be one final tune-up for his game before major season.

Masters

Tiger is going to head down Magnolia Lane to a place he has won five times. Next.

PGA Championship

This one is a bit more tricky, as Quail Hollow hosts the PGA Championship. He won there in 2007 when it was the Wachovia Championship, but if Tiger was going to skip out on a major, it may be this one.

U.S. Open

Woods finished T-2 in his one U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. He has called Oakmont one of the most difficult courses in the world. And he’s up for a challenge like that.

Open Championship

Woods has played one time at Royal Portrush in 2019, missing the cut. The weather conditions will be tough on him, but the courses are also some of the easiest on his body to maneuver for four days.

Hero World Challenge

Silly season event, sure. But Tiger will play the Hero if he’s able.

Tiger Woods isn’t considered The GOAT because of his 82 wins and 15 majors. Well, not entirely at least. A huge part of Woods’ legend is his aura, his tao, his swagger. For lack of a better term, his brand. In the history of American sports, only Michael “Jumpman” Jordan boasts a bigger reputation, and both were fueled by the same common denominators:

Much like Jordan, Woods success on the golf course was rivaled only by his success during the commercial breaks, where the Eldrick could be found juggling, trash talking and teaching in equal measure over the years. To honor that other side of Woods’ dominance, we compiled our 10 favorite Tiger Nike commercials for your viewing pleasure. Whether your taking a walk down memory lane or seeing them for the first time, we think you’ll agree that no one ever did it better than The Big Cat.

10. ‘Golf’s Not Hard’

The irony of Nike’s ‘Golf’s Not Hard’ campaign, which saw a fresh-faced Tiger Woods trying his hand at golf instruction, is, of course, that golf is hard … just not for Woods. The four-spot series saw Woods dishing out hilarious “tips” on everything from fixing your slice to fairway bunkers and gave many golf fans their first look at Woods’ comedic chops. It won’t go down as Woods’ most inspirational or impactful Nike commercial, but if watching a guy named Joe duck hook one into a little old lady’s face doesn’t make you want to strap on a pair Air Zoom TWs, then capitalism has well and truly failed us. – Coleman Bentley

9. Swing portrait

Tiger Woods did funnier Nike commercials. He did more dramatic ones, too. But the duo never did one more perfect that his “swing portrait” commercial from 2006.

The context is important here: Tiger had just re-tooled his golf swing under the tutelage of Hank Haney. After a career-threatening slump, Woods had returned with four wins in his last eight majors (with three more top 10s outside of that) and was in the midst of the highest winning percentage of his career.

The commercial is the best because it’s stripped down to almost nothing. Tiger wears a black outfit against a black backdrop. The camera takes a central and singular focus on Tiger’s golf swing. But in doing so, it forces the viewer to stew on the man’s incredible talent, that has transcended the golf swing from an act of athleticism into artform. – Luke Kerr-Dineen

8. Tiger and Rory

Not too much to add here other than Nike went INSANELY hard with this one. Like, I’m pretty sure the first few times we all saw this one people were legitimately wondering if that was actual footage of child Rory and his dad watching Tiger growing up. Just superb acting, casting, directing, editing, etc. Should have won an Oscar. – Christopher Powers

7. A free lesson

Is greatness contagious? The answer is debatable, but let’s at least agree mere proximity to great players has fringe benefits, as this all-time Woods ad highlights. The scene: a bunch of hackers on a driving range making the usual assortment of hitchy swings. Then Woods shows up with a bucket of balls (less relatable is the idea that Woods loaded the bucket out of an automated machine) and when he starts striping it, everyone follows suit. For a few blissful moments, the players on the range are transformed. Then Woods leaves, reality returns, and balls again start flying in dangerous directions. – Sam Weinman

6. When Big Cat’s away, the mice will play

We’ve gotten used to seeing Tiger Woods make comebacks, but his return in March of 2009 after undergoing season-ending knee surgery the previous June (Who can forget his one-legged U.S. Open win?) was such a big deal that it was treated as more of a news event than a sporting one. And Nike delivered with a hilarious ad showing how life was different on tour without him, allowing others—including Anthony Kim—to flourish in his absence. But just as they’re getting comfortable as the big men on campus (“Sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows!”), the Big Cat returns to put a damper on things. Carl Pettersson gives an all-time sigh as a healthy Tiger struts around the locker room. Officially, Woods would go on to win six times that season and reclaim his title as PGA Tour Player of the Year. Unofficially, this was the best sports commercial of the year. – Alex Myers

5. The Champion Golfer of the Year

What doesn’t this commercial have? Peter Alliss’ warm blanket of a voice on the call? Check. A classic Faces tune setting the score? Check. A five-year-old Tiger Woods prowling the fairways of the Old Course like the apex predator he would become? Cheeee-eck. Not only was this 2005 classic, originally produced for Nike Golf before being picked up by Nike proper, the perfect combination of humorous and heartfelt, it was also an interesting harbinger of ads to come. By digitally inserting a young Woods into actual footage from his 2000 Open triumph at St. Andrews, Nike beat A.I. to the punch by almost two decades, once again blazing a trail for others to follow. – Coleman Bentley

4. ‘Never’

Let’s be honest, Nike never really missed when it came to Tiger Woods commercials, but for me, this one stood above the rest. In 60 seconds, it perfectly encapsulates the stern approach Earl Woods took with Tiger as he was growing up, an approach that molded Tiger into the legendary golfer he became. While considered problematic by some, there’s no doubt what Earl did clearly worked. And talk about some prophetic words. Athletes nowadays can’t even handle the slightest bit of criticism after a poor performance. Woods handled 10 times as much as anybody in his career and handled it with ease (or at least that’s how it seemed). Outside of Jordan or Kobe, there is probably not a more mentally tough athlete to ever do it. – Christopher Powers

Tiger Woods
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 17: Tiger Woods of the United States during the final round of the PNC Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club on December 17, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
3. ‘Hello World’

Tiger Woods’ first Nike commercial upon turning pro immediately spoke to the golfer’s transcendent potential, listing not only his remarkable amateur accomplishments, but also addressing his unique opportunity as a multicultural star in a game still known for exclusivity. While certainly impactful, it was also a spot that followed Woods whenever he seemed to shy away from thorny social issues. It also led to a cringey moment at Woods’ introductory press conference at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open, when the golfer opened with his new Nike catchphrase “Hello, World,” the first of many signs that showed Woods was OK sticking to the corporate script. – Sam Weinman

2. Juggling

This classic actually wasn’t planned. Woods was on set shooting another great spot involving hackers on a driving range, but when director Doug Liman noticed Woods juggling a golf ball with a wedge during some downtime, he sprung into action. Hey, the guy directed “Swingers” and “The Bourne Identity,” so he knew what he was doing. Tiger later said being told how much time he had left for the 30-second shot threw him off, but he nailed it to perfection on his fourth try. The result was some unscripted magic—and the birth of a new era of all golfers trying to juggle when waiting on the tee box. – Alex Myers

1 ‘I am Tiger Woods’

Why is this the definitive Tiger Woods-Nike commercial? It’s right there in the name: “I am Tiger Woods.” But the genius of this Nike spot is that Woods never utters a single world. Instead, young golfers of various races, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds all declare themselves “Tiger Woods,” a testament to how much Woods had already changed the face of golf by 1997. Much like ‘Hello World,’ ‘I am Tiger Woods’ raises questions about whether Woods ever delivered on the societal promises of these early ads, but thanks to sheer force of will and gob-smacking amounts of talent, his impact was felt all the same. – Coleman Bentley

Bonus: Frank

Nothing to see here, just the world’s most dominant athlete sitting in a diner talking to his head cover. Totally normal stuff.

There’s an undeniable magic in the air when Tiger Woods tees it up at Augusta National. The galleries fill quickly, the cheers are noticeably larger and there’s a certain electricity in the air. His shots, even when hit below his high standard, are viewed with an intensity that few other players in professional sports have commanded.

In 2024, despite struggling with his game and with physical ailments, Woods battled back to make the cut in improbable fashion.

Tiger began his round making bogeys on four of his first five holes, putting weekend play in serious jeopardy. After settling in, Woods finished with a 2-over-par 74, which despite being nine shots back of the leader, Scottie Scheffler, was only four shots back of second place.

Woods set a Masters record with his 24th consecutive made cut.

“I’m proud of the fact that my whole team got me into this position,’’ Woods said. “We worked hard to get me here to where I had an opportunity and then not to have, as I said, any setbacks this week, and we haven’t. Kept progressing.’’

But after the Friday rally, Woods struggled mightily over the weekend. The 46-year-old shot rounds of 82 and 77 to finish 16 over, last amongst all players who made the cut. The 82 was his worst round at Augusta, the last-place finish just the third of his pro career.

Tiger Woods

Bob Harig: Woods’ second-round 72 was one of the under-rated rounds of his career. The conditions were as difficult as they had been for any day in the recent Masters memory. And the old Woods moxie was on display. He handled it beautifully, his ball striking pristine, as would be required on a windy day. The following day we began to see the back issues. After a birdie at the fifth hole, Woods struggled. He looked back enough by the turn that there were thoughts he might withdraw. It was the beginning of the end as we later learned that Woods needed another back procedure.

Jeff Ritter: Tiger’s fight to make the cut was an interesting subplot, but as I watched it I couldn’t help contemplating how many more Masters Woods might play in. Feels like we may be on borrowed time here.

John Schwarb: Debates over Tiger ever winning again have now been replaced with debates around whether it’s still great to see him when he’s far down the leaderboard, and my answer to the latter is “yes.”

When we think of the golfing greats, it’s hard not to think of Tiger Woods—the big T in the golfing world. Ever since he first stepped onto the greens, he’s been a dominant force. Can you believe he will be turning 49 this December? That too, just a few weeks after hosting the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas! Looking back at his career, it’s amazing to reflect on his incredible seasons over the decades. Take 2000, for instance. He scored 9 wins in just 20 events! And who could forget 2006? That was the same year he lost his dad, Earl Woods, yet still managed to leave an unforgettable mark on the course.

PNC Championship. That image truly warms the heart. However, it’s been a bit surprising that Tiger hasn’t clinched a title in the last few seasons. Alongside the injuries he’s faced, one has to wonder—could it also be attributed to his advancing age? With his 50th birthday on the horizon in 2025, it’s quite natural for stamina to decline a bit, but reaching 50 also signals a new chapter in his golfing career: the PGA Tour Champions!

According to Golfmonthly, it seems Woods is already one step ahead. He’s gearing up for the Champions Trophy, which is exciting news for fans. While Woods hasn’t officially laid out any plans for when he turns 50, reports say he’s expressed a genuine desire to compete on the Champions Tour. The thought of being able to use a golf cart is a pretty big motivator. I mean, who wouldn’t want that after years on the course? In a press conference back in December 2021, he even joked, “Four more years and I’m in a cart.”

PGA Tour Champions President, Miller Brady, has mentioned that there’s chatter among other Champions Tour players about Woods eager to join. “You know, you hear comments from time to time about how he can’t wait to have a golf cart,” he said. Speaking along the same lines, he added, “He has conversations with Steve Stricker or Ernie Els or some of these other guys. You know, they’ll come back and tell me they’ll say he’s looking forward, which is great.”

But what would it look like once he makes his Champions Tour debut? Brady expressed some realism but optimism, noting, “What does that mean? I have no illusions that he’s going to come out here and play 15 times. If he plays four times, that would be fantastic, if he plays 10 times, that would be even better.” So with such hype going on, when can we expect Tiger Woods to be eligible for the Champions Tour?

Everything you need to know about the Champions Tour and Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods

As Tiger Woods approaches his 50th birthday in 2025, golf fans everywhere are buzzing with excitement about his eligibility for the PGA Tour Champions. This senior golf circuit is specifically designed for players aged 50 and over, offering a competitive stage for seasoned golfers. It is a branch of the PGA Tour that provides a platform for golfers who have amassed impressive careers but are now entering the senior circuit. Established back in 1980, it began as the Senior PGA Tour and underwent a name change in 2002 before settling on the PGA Tour Champions in 2015. It’s always fascinating to see how this tour has evolved!

To participate in the Champions Tour, players must reach the age of 50 by June 1 of that year. For Tiger, this means he will be eligible to join the tour shortly after turning 50. To qualify, players must also complete a 72-hole Regional Qualifying Stage, demonstrating their skills and readiness for the senior ranks. The Champions Tour features significant events like the Senior Open Championship, which has a standard field of 144 players. A qualifying round helps determine who gets to join the fun, allowing high finishers to earn a spot if fewer than 120 exempt players register. The top five players from the previous year’s Open Qualifying event also gain entry, making it a journey filled with opportunity.

Woods’ entry into the tour is eagerly anticipated, especially since he’s a remarkable 84-time PGA Tour winner, 15X major champion, and had been world number 1 for 62 weeks. The tour not only serves as a new chapter for him but also showcases how senior golfers can still have tremendous competitive spirit.

The current roster of senior majors, including The Tradition and the Senior PGA Championship, adds an exciting layer to the golf calendar, with each tournament played over four rounds, which is unique compared to many other senior events that typically wrap up in three. For many senior players, the Champions Tour represents a thrilling chance to extend their competitive careers, and with Woods stepping into this realm soon, it promises to be an exhilarating time for golf enthusiasts everywhere!