Turning 50 is a milestone for anyone. For Tiger Woods, it also unlocks a new competitive option.
According to ESPN, the 15-time major champion is now eligible to compete on the PGA Tour Champions, the over-50 circuit that features shorter events, frequent cart use, and a schedule built to accommodate veteran bodies.
Eligibility, however, doesn’t equal intent. Woods has not announced whether he plans to tee it up on the senior tour, and his recent health history suggests any decision will be measured.
The 2025 season marked the first time he didn’t play a single PGA Tour event. He withdrew from the Genesis Invitational following the death of his mother, Kultida, on February 4, then ruptured his left Achilles tendon in March while ramping up practice at home in Florida.
That setback followed a back procedure last October—believed to be his seventh—addressing pain and mobility issues.
Speaking in December at the Hero World Challenge, Woods offered a clear-eyed update on where he stands physically. He said he had only recently resumed chipping and putting and wasn’t close to full swings. “Once I get a feel for practicing, exploding, playing, the recovery process, then I can assess where I’m going to play and how much I’ll play,” he said.
If health were the only variable, the competitive case would be easy. Woods owns 82 PGA Tour wins and last contended in a major when he famously captured the 2019 Masters for his fifth green jacket.
Since a serious single-car crash in 2021 left him with multiple open fractures to his right leg—surgeons later told him amputation was nearly required—his appearances have been sporadic. He last played a four-round tournament at the 2024 Masters and last competed on tour at the Open Championship in July 2024.
The senior circuit presents a different rhythm. Most tournaments are 54 holes, the travel is lighter, and the majors remain 72. That structure could be appealing if Woods decides he wants competitive reps without the weekly grind.
Woods, for his part, has kept the focus simple. “I’d like to come back to just playing golf again,” he said.