Huge Tiger Woods move being prepared as PGA Tour chief offers update

Tiger Woods has battled an incredible series of injuries,as he just had his seventh back surgery, and many are questioning if he will ever return to the sport. Even though it’s unknown, many are anticipating an exciting return to the PGA, in hopes that Woods can get back to being an idol in the sport.

Woods had a torn achilles that cost him the entire 2025 season, and he’s had 33 injuries total throughout his career. Woods is coming off his second surgery of 2025. He had a separate procedure in March after he ruptured his Achilles tendon, and then had his second back surgery in just over a year. The last time Woods played was at the PNC Championship last year, and he was also set to make his return at the TGL in January.

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It has been suggested that Woods could return for The PGA Tour Champions, as he turns 50 on December 30th and that tour is open to professional golfers aged 50 and older. President of the senior tour, Miller Brady, is anxiously awaiting Woods return as he’s been preparing for a year.

“The answer is yes, we’re ready. We’re well prepared,” said Brady. “We’ve done some white boarding over the past year in preparation for Tiger turning 50, and if and when he plays, our tournaments will be prepared.”

Brady also went in depth on the preparations, but mostly pointed out how he wants Woods back to being healthy.

“It is going to be more,” he said. “And you mentioned it – security, buses, portalettes, concession stands – all of that is taken into account when we prepare for [Woods playing].

“To be honest with you, given the last surgery, I just hope that Tiger gets back on his feet and is able to play golf again.”

The PGA Tour announced its schedule for the 2026 season this week, and added two more tournaments and have a total of $69 million in potential prize money. PGA Tour player, Steve Stricker, said last year the Tour needs to make sure it’s adapting for Woods to be able to play.

“Let’s make sure he can play,” Stricker said. “You hate to make special rules but if we can get him out here with a cart, let’s do it, you know what I mean. “We should do everything we can.”

The PGA Tour Champions have unveiled their 2026 schedule. 

The over-50 circuit features 28 events as well as two new tournaments in Portugal and Pennsylvania.

In total, players will be competing for more than $69m in prize money – a slight increase from this season.

“We are thrilled to be adding new events in Portugal and Pennsylvania to an existing schedule highlighted by tremendous title sponsors in many markets which have become staples of Champions Tour golf,” said PGA Tour Champions president Miller Brady.

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“The incredible play we’ve seen from some of the game’s legends this season is sure to continue in 2026, and we are looking forward to building on that continued momentum for our partners and fans.”

The announcement will be of particular interest to 15-time major champion Tiger Woods.

Woods turns 50 in December and could be eyeing up a few starts on the senior US circuit if he does in fact return to the golf course.

The golfer is currently recovering from the seventh back surgery of his career.

Woods had a disc replacement surgery earlier in the month after experiencing “pain and a lack of mobility in his lower back”.

The surgery, performed in New York, was a success but Woods has not revealed a potential timeline for a return.

It was a departure from previous public announcements where he has confirmed injuries.

The surgery marked the second time Woods has gone under the knife in 2025.

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In March, Woods had surgery to repair a ruptured left achilles tendon suffered while training at home in preparation for the 2025 Masters.

He had withdrawn from Genesis Invitational weeks earlier following the death of his mother.

Woods has played a limited schedule since sustaining serious injuries in a car accident in February 2021.

He is not the only player who will soon be eligible to compete on the PGA Tour Champions.

Zach Johnson, Rory Sabbatini, Ben Crane and Ryan Palmer are also turning 50 within the next 12 months.

What are the chances Tiger Woods plays on the PGA Tour Champions?

We will have to wait and see how Woods recovers from his latest back surgery.

Jack Nicklaus, Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els are among the notables who have encouraged Woods to turn to the senior tour when he is eligible.

Harrington previously contended that Woods had personally told him that he couldn’t wait to beat him when he turns 50.

Nicklaus also made that assertion, explaining that Woods was definitely eyeing up a few starts and wasn’t against using a golf cart in competition.

Els even attempted to goad Woods with a cheeky dig, imploring the five-time Masters winner to “beat us again if you can”.

“I’ve said [to Woods], please come play,” Els told Golfweek.

“And I think it can only be beneficial to him. He will get himself in golf shape.

“You can ride a cart without any shame and if there was one guy that should be able to drive a cart, it’s him. And he can get his a– back in shape.”

What Tiger Woods did on the PGA Tour in 2019 that stunned Tommy Fleetwood

Tiger Woods once did something so impressive on the PGA Tour that Tommy Fleetwood was left stunned.

Woods is widely regarded as the best player of all time, and he has the joint most wins in the history of the PGA Tour, with 82 to his name.

The 49-year-old won 15 major championships throughout his career as well, and one round he played six years ago left Fleetwood in awe of his talent.

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Even Scottie Scheffler has admitted that comparisons between himself and Woods are ‘silly’, such was the 15-time major champion’s dominance during his peak.

Woods now puts most of his focus into golf course design, but he will obviously be remembered most for his prowess during tournament weeks.

The 82-time PGA Tour winner had a knack of surprising his fellow PGA Tour players at times with his peerless performances.

What Tiger Woods did on the PGA Tour in 2019 stunned Tommy Fleetwood

Fleetwood played alongside Woods in the third round of the ZOZO Championship in 2019.

The 49-year-old went on to win the event by three strokes, but it was his third round 66 that really blew Fleetwood away.

The Englishman was speaking on the Rick Shiels Golf Show back in 2021 about Tiger’s prowess on the golf course.

And he raved about what he witnessed Woods do at the ZOZO in 2019.

Fleetwood said: “It was probably the best round of golf I’ve ever watched.

“He hit shot after shot that was perfect and I was having one of those days where I was playing distinctly average, I’m grafting away to be around par or 1-over.”

“At the end of the day, he taps in for his 66, nine birdies in his last 15 holes and he cruised to it. I shook his hand and I said, ‘that was really good today Tiger’.

“Then he looked at me, he winked and he went ‘How ’bout that huh?’ He knows he’s played well there, so that must be very, very good.

“He is so self-focused. It’s not that you don’t feel part of his round of golf, if he wants to talk he’ll talk, but he’s got that amazing focus that he’s always had and it almost makes it easier for you.“

Tiger Woods’ incredible PGA Tour record

Woods’ record on the PGA Tour is truly incredible.

He finished inside the top-10 in more than 50% of the tournaments he played, and he won more than 20% of the events he played.

It’s such a shame that Woods has suffered so badly with injuries over the past 15 years or so.

He would have undoubtedly won many more tournaments and, indeed, major championships had he remained healthy.

Still though, Woods will go down as one of the two best players to have ever graced the game, alongside Jack Nicklaus.

And the truth is that many people would put him right at the top of the list.