Insider predicts Tiger Woods could make surprise PGA Tour return

Notah Begay III wears multiple “inner” hats. As a former PGA Tour winner and current Golf Channel analyst, he is a Tour insider. But he’s also a Tiger Woods insider.

As an old and trusted friend of 15 times grand championBegay’s predictions for Tiger carry weight. His latest prediction? That Woods will indeed be back on the PGA Tour soon. But not only that. Begay also suggested that Tiger could play two tournaments that he rarely, if ever, plays.

Notah Begay III talks about Tiger Woods’ return

Begay’s long friendship with Woods began in junior golf and continued on the Stanford University golf team, then on the PGA Tour.

In the past, Begay has offered insights into Tiger’s thinking that could have been offered by none other than the Big Cat himself.

And now, everyone wants to know what Tiger thinks. After competing in the inaugural TGL season earlier this year, it looked like Woods was primed for the 2025 season. But then Achilles surgery kept him out all year.

In October, Woods announced that he would underwent surgery to replace a disc in his backfurther casting doubt on the likely date of his return.

This week, Begay appeared on Straight Facts Homie! podcast with host Trey Wingoand it quickly addressed one of the biggest questions on golf fans’ minds: when, if ever, will Tiger Woods compete on the PGA Tour again?

Begay responded by predicting not only that he would bounce back, but that he could do so in two improbable tournaments, at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Colonial and RBC Inheritance in Harbor city on Hilton Head Island.

Why those events, which Tiger has played together once? Begay explained that the only thing preventing Tiger from returning to the golf profession is his ability to walk 72 holes.

“I think there are some places that can accommodate his current physical condition,” Begay said on the podcast. “I think the biggest issue, in the conversations I’ve had with him, is the walk. That’s it. He hits it great, he’s in tremendous physical condition. His ball speeds are pretty fast, they’re 175-180 which is adequate for the PGA Tour. Can he walk 72 holes plus such a big question, and I don’t know much? The championship site with the flattest ground, Hilton Head with the flattest ground, can to be objectives.

He continued: “And those are places he’s never typically played. He’s played the Colonial once and never gone back. And I don’t think he’s ever been to Hilton Head. So I think those are two things you might see at some point.”

Begay also gave a reason why Woods would try to make a comeback. The inspiration comes from wanting to win his 83rd PGA Tour event, breaking his current tie with Sam Snead for the most Tour victories in history.

“In his heart, 83 is a big number. It’s an important number,” Begay said.

And if not the PGA Tour, Begay admitted he would like him to play some PGA Tour Champions events, a a wish that many senior professionals have echoed.

“But we’re also dying to see ourselves in the Tournament of Champions, where he can get a cart!”

For the record, RBC Legacy 2026 takes place April 16-19a week after the 2026 Masters, another possible venue for Woods’ return to professional golf. The Charles Schwab 2026 Challenge begins at Colonial on May 28.

How Tiger Woods and Notah Begay III Became ‘Pseudo-Brothers’

In addition to providing insight into the current and future Tiger Woods, Begay also revealed what it was like to meet a young Tiger 40 years ago, when he was already dominating the tournaments.

“Tiger and I have been friends since he was 9 years old, so over 40 years now,” Begay explained in Straight Facts Homie! appearance.

They first met at a junior golf tournament where Begay’s older brother was competing. But it was Tiger who caught Begay’s attention.

“I had heard about this kid who had won tournaments by 15 and 20 strokes. And I said I have to go see this kid. And I ran into a young Tiger Woods, 9 years old, out there competing with the older kids and beating the older kids,” Begay revealed. “Just the pizza and the energy, and the way he went about his business was really fascinating, even at that age.”

Begay then shared how their initial meeting blossomed into a lifelong friendship.

“So after the round I went and introduced myself to him and we became friends. We’d meet at junior tournaments along the way. And we’d stay together. (Tiger’s father, Earl Woods) always traveled with him and my parents couldn’t travel because it was expensive. So Earl always took care of me. He always made sure I had dinner.” “So we became almost like pseudo-siblings and carried that friendship into college.”

He also asserted that Woods was the greatest golfer ever and argued that witnessing Tiger’s accomplishments throughout his career gives him the authority to make that call.

“So I’ve been there every step of the way — the good, the bad, the ugly — with my friend. And I have the utmost respect for everything he’s done. And nobody can really understand how many mountains he had to climb to set those records and what he had to sacrifice to set those records. But no one had ever worked harder in the game. talent, so I consider him the best that ever played.”

You can watch Begay’s entire appearance on Straight Facts Homie! podcast here.

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