Tiger Woods is 50 next and with that, he will be eligible to play on the PGA TOUR Champions should he choose.
There has been plenty of excitement in the last few years of Woods making appearances on the senior tour and testing himself against the best over 50s out there.
Many players – such as Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink – have enjoyed fine spells on the TOUR Champions and continue to have success on there.
However, there are concerns that Woods may not be a lock in to play and that ultimately, he might feel his time is best served playing in the ‘normal’ majors.
Indeed, there are now other concerns coming to light, with suggestions that the PGA Tour itself may not actually want Woods to compete on the seniors.
The PGA Tour could try and stop Tiger Woods playing on the TOUR Champions
While the decision might ultimately end up being Woods’ own, the PGA Tour will also be behind him pushing one way or another.
Interestingly, according to a report from Adam Schupak at Golfweek, there are suggestions that the PGA Tour could well want Woods to avoid the over-50s tour altogether.
Quoting senior tour player Tom Pernice Jr, it’s suggested that the PGA might well want Woods to remain on its main tour.
“That’s if the Tour wants him to play out here,” Pernice has said. “Does the Tour want Tiger to stay over there (on the PGA Tour) as opposed to play over here? That is the question.”
Adding more fuel to the fire and serving that argument, another senior tour player, Billy Andrade, also doubted whether Woods would come.
“What’s the buy-in for a PGA Tour event that nobody is going to watch the minute Tiger Woods shows up to play a Champions Tour event? That’s what I think they are worried about,” Andrade added.
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However, adding weight to why Woods himself might fancy the challenge, Andrade suggested that Woods might well need the feel of competition.
“What happens to everyone is they get out here and it’s a major adrenaline rush,” Andrade added. “I think his competitive nature is going to trump anything else and he’s going to want to play. I could be wrong and maybe his leg is so bad that he can’t compete and he can’t get around, but if he shows up out here our tour is changed and it will be interesting to see how the PGA Tour handles it.”
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Tiger Woods will always be box office
For years, the narrative has been that Tiger Woods going to the Champions Tour would be the ideal scenario and brilliant for the game.
However, this point from both Pernice Jr. and Andrade is a good one.
The PGA Tour itself has plenty to lose if Tiger does indeed go to the Champions Tour and goes to events which are directly against the ‘lesser’ events on the PGA Tour.
In essence, it will take eyeballs away from the main tour and ultimately, it all comes down to sponsorships and viewing figures.
Woods, of course, will have a huge say here and whatever he wants, will likely be what happens.
But still, it is a thought-provoking discussion and one which, in time, we will see answered.
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