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.

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

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!

‘Tiger Woods Did Everything So Much Slower’: 1x Major Champ Learnt the Most Vital Golfing Lesson the Hard Way

If you think the game of golf is all about talent and top-notch gear, think again. It takes a lot of mental strength, and that goes for everyone, even the legends. Just ask Justin Rose, who learned this firsthand when he competed against Tiger Woods during the 2007 BMW Championship. Back in 2007, at Cog Hill, Rose was right there in the mix with Woods. He was having a solid round—three under through six, while Woods was just one stroke ahead at four under.

“We’re chit-chatting, and we’re having a good time. We’re talking about the Bahamas and this, that, and the other. And I’m like, oh my gosh, this is great. Tiger was my best friend. It’s a perfect season,” Rose remembered.

But then, something changed. As they made the turn, Woods went into another gear. “It was like, goodbye,” Rose said, still amazed. Woods shifted into focus mode—his walk slowed, his routine tightened up, and even his breathing seemed more deliberate.

“And it was the greatest lesson I’ve ever had because he did everything so much slower. He locked in. His eyes just went. Obviously, his routine was good, but he walked slower. He just absolutely lazered in and put together a great back-and-around win in the tournament.” What hit Rose the hardest wasn’t just Woods’s ability to close, but the timing of it all. Early on, Woods was relaxed, just easing into things. But when it mattered, he flipped the switch and upped his intensity.

“I was like, that’s how it’s done. That’s proper. Because the intensity of the early part of the round probably suited him too. Relaxed. Free. Get off to a good start. Because sometimes that deep intensity from hole one doesn’t serve you well either.”

Well, maybe this incident was the reminder for the one-time major winner that golf isn’t just about talent. It’s about knowing when to turn it up and when to let it flow. Woods didn’t just play to win; he played the mental game like no one else. And well hearing stories about Woods from his rivals is always fun.

Woods’s peer explained how his presence felt on the course

Woods is a man of few words. He’s not the type to engage in constant chatter, but while his words may be limited, his presence speaks volumes. During an appearance on the Par 3 podcast, six-time PGA Tour winner Hunter Mahan explained how Woods’s aura on the course was enough to make his competitors feel uneasy.

Mahan described it as an almost overwhelming intensity. “You’re in the sports field. It’s like it’s an intense place, it’s like guys are going be a little chippy, but like he really used that to his advantage, like he stepped on that tee and there was an intimidation, there was an intensity that was very unknown to everybody and he used that in a huge huge way because everyone was very uncomfortable about it and they couldn’t do anything about it there, nothing about it,” Mahan said.

Arron Oberholser, another one of Woods’s rivals, has shared a similar experience with the intimidating aura the 15x major winner brought to the course. He recalled the feeling of being physically intimidated for the first time when shaking Woods’ hand. “He’s always the last one on the tee. We’re waiting, thinking he’s going to miss his tee time, and then here he comes. But he’s not looking at you—he’s looking through you as he shakes your hand like you’re not even there. That was the first time I truly felt physically intimidated by another person. I had to quickly re-gather myself and remind myself I had a job to do,” Oberholser said back in 2020.

Whether he was flipping the switch when it mattered or letting his intensity speak for him, Woods really changed the game when it came to being a competitor. It wasn’t just about his skills—it was the way he controlled the course mentally that set him apart.

Tiger Woods and Ex-Wife Elin Nordegren Joyfully Hug After He and Son Charlie Finish Second at PNC Championship

Tiger and Charlie played in their first PNC Championship back in 2020

Tiger Woods and ex-wife Elin Nordegren are still supporting each other — and their son Charlie!

The former couple — who divorced in 2010 after six years of marriage — recently embraced each other in happiness after Tiger and Charlie Woods, 15, placed second at the PNC Championship on Sunday, Dec. 22.

Although the father-son duo lost the golf tournament to Bernhard Langer and his son Jason, the moment was highlighted by the unexpected public show of affection between Woods, 48 and Nordegren, 44, which went viral on social media.

Charlie also had a major victory during the tournament’s fourth hole, as he hit his very first hole-in-one right in front of his golf legend dad.

Footage of the moment was posted by the PGA Tour — which also shared that Charlie’s shot was on a par-3 hole and traveled 176 feet for the ace. He used a 7-iron before the ball landed about 6 ft. from the hole itself and then rolled into the cup.

The elder Woods lovingly embraced his son after making the shot and the two were all smiles.

Speaking with the Golf Channel after his milestone golf moment, Charlie said, “It was a perfect 7-iron, so just kind of hit it.”

“Down off the left, a little cut 7. It was awesome. I didn’t think it went in. I don’t believe anybody until I go up there and see it,” he added.

The PNC Championship was truly a family affair, as Woods’ and Nordegren’s 17-year-old daughter Sam acted as her father’s caddie for the event after making her caddie debut at last year’s tournament.

Tiger has repeatedly said that he is always “excited” to play golf with his son. “Charlie clearly loves the times he spends with his dad on the golf course,” a source close to Woods told PEOPLE in 2020. “It’s a definite bonding activity for the two of them.”

Tiger and Charlie played in their first PNC Championship back in 2020. “I don’t think words can describe it,” Tiger said at the time. “Just the fact that we were able to have this experience together, Charlie and I, it’s memories for a lifetime.”