Tiger Woods Turns 50: What’s Next for the Golf Legend?
The legendary golfer Tiger Woods celebrated his 50th birthday on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious career. This special occasion opens the door to new possibilities, including eligibility to compete on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, once he recovers from his recent health issues. So far, Woods has not publicly confirmed whether he intends to participate in the Senior PGA Tour. This circuit offers golfers the advantage of using carts and features a 54-hole format in most of its tournaments, with the exception of the majors, which are played over 72 holes. Last season was the first in which Woods did not compete in any PGA Tour tournament. Initially, he was scheduled to participate in the Genesis Invitational, but he withdrew because he did not feel ready to compete after the death of his mother, Kultida, on February 4. In March, while preparing for the Masters, Woods suffered a rupture of the left Achilles tendon. In addition, he underwent what is believed to be his seventh back surgery on October 10 to replace a disc in his lower back, which was causing him pain and mobility problems.If injuries had not been a constant factor, Woods would probably still have a lot of competitive golf ahead of him after reaching his fifties. Phil Mickelson proved that age is no impediment, becoming the oldest major championship winner, by winning the 2021 PGA Championship at 50 years old. Injuries have been the biggest challenge for Woods in recent years. He has participated in only 11 PGA Tour tournaments in the last five seasons, since suffering serious injuries in a car accident in February 2021. He suffered multiple “open fractures” in his lower right leg, and a rod was placed in his tibia, as well as screws and nails in his foot and ankle during emergency surgery. Doctors even considered amputating his right leg. After withdrawing from the 2023 Masters, Woods revealed that he had aggravated plantar fasciitis in his foot. Ten days later, he underwent surgery to treat post-traumatic arthritis in his right ankle, and subsequently, in September 2024, he underwent a lumbar spine microdecompression to relieve nerve compression in his lower back. The last time Woods competed in a PGA Tour event was in July 2024, where he missed the cut at the Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. He hasn’t played four rounds in an official tournament since finishing in 60th place at the 2024 Masters. The last time the winner of 82 PGA Tour tournaments achieved a top 20 in a major was at the 2019 Masters, where he was crowned champion and earned his fifth green jacket.“Once I feel the practice, the explosion, and the game, the recovery process, I will be able to assess where I am going to play and how much I am going to play,” Woods stated at a press conference at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on December 2. “I’m still far from that part and that kind of decision, that kind of level of commitment.”
Tiger Woods
Despite Woods’ recent difficulties, his PGA Tour colleagues have not hesitated to joke about his turning 50.“I would like to play golf again,” Woods expressed in the Bahamas earlier this month. “I haven’t played golf in a long time. It’s been a difficult year. A lot has happened on and off the course that has been difficult. My passion is simply to play, I haven’t done it in a long time.”
Tiger Woods
Trevor Immelman, 2008 Masters champion, joked that he reminds his children to send Woods a Christmas card every year for his impact on golf.“I knew he was older. I didn’t realize he was that old,” Gary Woodland commented at this month’s PNC Championship, which Woods did not attend. “Tiger’s impact, obviously, on golf is amazing. What he has done off the course with his foundation, I wish he were here too. I hope he is recovering to the point of returning because we all miss him. Everything is better when he is present.”
Gary Woodland
In the Hero World Challenge, Woods joked that he would probably play in 25 events on both circuits after turning 50.“If they’re going to send a Christmas card every year, they better send it to Tiger because without him we’d be in a different situation,” Immelman said.
Trevor Immelman
The PGA Tour Champions calendar will begin from January 22 to 24 at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii. The first major, the Senior PGA Championship, will be played at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Florida, from April 16 to 19, a week after the Masters. Woods is the only golfer to have won the U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Open, so he could have motivation to compete in the U.S. Senior Open, which will be played at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, from July 2 to 5. Jim Furyk suggested they might “challenge” him to compete. Steve Flesch, for his part, indicated that Woods would have to plan his PGA Tour Champions schedule in advance to give tournament organizers time to prepare.“I think that should cover most of the year, right?” Woods said. “No, I’m just looking forward to playing again. Let me do that and then I’ll see what the schedule will be.”
Tiger Woods
