Tiger Woods hasn’t teed it up in months, and fans already know the story. After missing the cut at The Open in 2024, Woods was hit with yet another setback-a ruptured Achilles that put his comeback plans on ice. While the 15-time major champ continues to rehab, others on the PGA Tour Champions are looking at their watches. They don’t just want Tiger back; they want to compete against him.
Ernie Els, fresh off a runner-up finish at the Ally Challenge, isn’t shy about it. He’s counting down the days until Woods turns 50 and becomes eligible for the senior tour. “Beat us again … if you can,”Els said with a grin. It wasn’t just a challenge-it was a dare.
Els even spelled it out. Woods wouldn’t need to grind through 72 holes walking the course. On the Champions Tour, carts are allowed. “He can ride a cart without any shame,” Els said. “And if there was one guy that should be able to drive a cart, it’s him. Get his a** back in shape. Shoot 66. Make those birdie putts under the gun.”
Rivals Want Tiger Back-And Soon
It’s not just Els pushing for Woods’s return. Bernhard Langer, who has set nearly every Champions Tour record imaginable, has been vocal too. “It would be a thrill to see Tiger come out and play,” Langer told Reuters. He even predicted Woods would eventually pick his spots and enter several events once eligible.
The truth is, Woods has hinted at it himself. At the 2023 Masters, he joked about looking forward to getting “the little buggy” and joining Fred Couples in senior events. He’ll be eligible in late 2025, but with Els and Langer practically rolling out the welcome mat, the drumbeat for his arrival is only getting louder.
For Woods, though, golf isn’t just about swinging a club again. He’s been deeply involved off the course. At a recent PGA Tour all-staff meeting, Woods sat alongside Patrick Cantlay and Adam Scott on the Future Competitions Committee, helping CEO Brian Rolapp introduce a controversial NFL-inspired voluntary retirement initiative. While that raised eyebrows among staff, Woods’s role highlights how invested he remains in shaping the Tour’s future.
A History Worth Revisiting
If Woods does accept Els’s challenge, it wouldn’t be their first high-stakes showdown. Back in 2000, the two traded eagles at the Mercedes Championships before Woods won with a dramatic birdie in a playoff. Three years later at the Presidents Cup, they battled again, this time agreeing to a tie after three playoff holes. The rivalry may be old, but the intrigue hasn’t faded.
For now, fans are left with questions. Will Woods take Els up on his blunt invitation? Can he find form again with the help of a golf cart and the shorter Champions Tour setup?
The only certainty is this: Woods’s eventual return, whether on the PGA Tour or the senior circuit, will dominate the headlines. And his rivals are making sure he knows the stage is waiting.
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