Will Tiger Woods play on the Champions Tour?

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Tiger Woods will host (but not play in) his Hero World Challenge this week in the Bahamas as he is still recovering from recent back surgery. Although with Woods’ 50th birthday on December 30, this has led to more speculation as to whether or not we’ll see Woods plays on the 50-and-over Champions Tour in the future. Woods has been mostly mum on the subject over the years, but has dropped some subtle teases. Is Woods realistic about playing the Champions Tour in any capacity? And can he be successful?

Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsensgolf): If he’s healthy enough to stand up and swing, we’ll see him, sparingly, because of his competitive desire or a partnership arrangement or some combination of the two. I don’t see how he stays away from it completely any more than Nicklaus. And a healthy Woods, fit enough to swing, would certainly have a chance to win.

Jack Hirsh, equipment editor (@JR_HIRSHey): If he can get a cart (and others on the field as well), he will play. We know how competitive he is, and if the biggest problem really is the walk (which all the evidence supports), then we’ll see him on the PGA Champions Tour. He’s keeping us in suspense because he just doesn’t want opponents in any tournament to know what his game plan is. As for his success … would you bet against him against the same guys he used to hit left, right and upside down? He won even with one hand tied behind his back. Now he’s going to show that he could do it with just one leg!

Josh Schrock, news editor (@Schrock_And_Awe): I think we might see him here and there in the tournament of champions, but I think if he’s able to swing and he thinks he can play competitively, he’ll be ready to play in the majors. Does playing Boeing Classic help this? We might get to a point where Tiger only plays on the senior tour, but I don’t think he thinks he’s there yet. But if he improves, of course, he can go out and be successful over 54 holes against the guys he beat in his prime.

Despite his efforts to stay healthy and his game declining over the years, Woods is still golf’s biggest draw. what do you think a Woods start on the Champs tour would do for that circuit? Would it be bigger than that week’s PGA Tour stop?

Meaning: There was going to be a lot of excitement around it the first time around and a ratings boost, but mostly as a sort of curiosity and nostalgia tour. Like a Bob Dylan concert right now. You want to see it. You must see it at least once. But whether you really need to see it often is another story. Personally, I’d rather remember Woods as the transcendent athlete he was than watch him go through replays of a nostalgic tour. So yes. I’m sure it would give the seniors a little jolt, but wouldn’t it be healthier for everyone — Tigers, fans, the tournament — if we eased every hope and expectation on the course?

Hirsh: It depends on that week’s PGA Tour stop. I see him playing in the Senior Majors with an occasional appearance at some of the more notable stops like the Clear Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach. That tournament has no PGA Tour competition. I see him being reluctant to play in something like the Chubb Classic, the Tour’s first continental stop, because it conflicts with the PGA Tour’s signature event at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He will be strategic when he plays.

Schrock: I’m sure it would inject some energy and money into the circuit when he did it. It would probably make those events more popular than some smaller PGA Tour events because, as Lydia Ko said, even people who don’t know golf know Tiger Woods. But it would be more of a nostalgia, enjoyable viewing experience than anything and that only goes so far.

of Skins Game is back on TV on Friday as Keegan Bradley, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele battled it out at the Panther National in Florida. What did you like? What didn’t you like? And was it enough to prove it has staying power?

Meaning: My feelings about the event were like a partially reheated turkey: tepid. The players were all likable and some of the banter, especially Xander’s, was fun. But the amounts they were playing for were disgusting (if I hadn’t missed it, was there any mention of proceeds going to charity by any chance) and the disingenuousness of a show that pretended we should be excited about how much each guy was making — instead of put off by it — gave me post-Thanksgiving jitters.

Hirsh: Meh, I found myself running it in the background while I was doing a Black Friday Amazon. I loved Keegan tracking everyone down by boat and showing what could have been at the Ryder Cup (holds back angry tears). Panther National looked cool too. But I’m with Josh. It fills a Black Friday morning sports void, which I think is worth something.

Schrock: Like most of golf’s one-off attempts to grab eyeballs, it was too much. There were some good moments. The personalities were fun enough, but I once again think that golf needs to go down the lane of doing less, not more, which Brian Rolapp seems to be heading towards. These special events are fine every now and then, but I don’t think they should return as a Black Friday tradition before the NFL or a busy college football parade. As Tiger, Rory and others have pointed out before, golf is not going to fight football.

Our Josh Sens found out Turkeys of the Year 2025our annual awards are given out for missteps or other unfortunate moments made over the past 11 months. Who or what takes home your choice?

sense: Rory’s fan abuse in Bethpage, hands down. For a mix of brainlessness and ugliness, it was hard to beat.

Hirsh: I’m going to be specific about the Sens theme here and say it was that emcee who joined in the “F— You Rory” chants on the first tee. what are we doing

Schrock: How could it not be all that happened at Bethpage as the Europeans roared to a massive advantage? If I had to pick a silver medal winner, I’d probably go with Phil for… well, everything.

Let’s end the holiday weekend with an easy (and cute) one. What are you grateful for in the world of golf?

sense: I’ll see your cheese and raise you a schmaltz. But it’s an honest answer: the friends I’ve made through golf on every continent where the game is played, plus many here in my hometown.

Hirsh: That my fiancee, Becca, hit a 5-wood long and high enough to hit and hold the green on the par-3 5th hole of Bandon Trails this weekend on a Trackman simulator! I don’t care if she ever plays golf more than once or twice a year, but it sure won’t hurt the cause!

Schrock: Extra cheese, anyone? Having a job that allows us to travel, play and cover golf is hard to come by. Not a bad way to “work”.

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