Earlier this month, Tiger Woods underwent lumbar disc replacement surgery in his L4/5 Lumbar spine for lower back symptoms, the latest in a series of surgeries the 15-time major winner has suffered through.
And while Woods is likely out for the foreseeable future, there is a possibility he could play on the PGA Tour Champions in 2026, as he is set to turn 50 on Dec. 30.
If that’s the case, and Woods decides to scratch his competitive itch on the senior circuit, will the infrastructure be in place to handle the crush of fans and media that will certainly follow?
“Yes, we’re ready. We’re well-prepared,” PGA Tour Champions president Miller Brady said on Golf Channel. “We’ve done some whiteboarding over the past year in preparation for Tiger turning 50.
“And if and when he plays, our tournaments are prepared. It is going to be more: security, buses, portalets, concession stands: all of that is taken into account when we plan for that.”
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour Champions announced its schedule for the 2026 season, one that features 28 events and will conclude at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix.
The 25-event regular season will welcome two new tournaments: the Portugal Invitational in Algarve, Portugal, and the Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
“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,” Brady said about the schedule reveal. “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.”
In total, Champions tour golfers will visit 18 states and four other countries (Morocco, Scotland, Portugal, Canada). The 2026 season will have players competing for more than $69 million in total prize money, a slight increase from the record-setting purse total this year. Woods isn’t the only newcomer eligible to compete Other players turning 50 in the next 12 months include Zach Johnson, Rory Sabbatini, Ben Crane, Ryan Palmer and others.
Although Woods hasn’t played an official event since the 2024 Open, he did tee it up at the PNC Championship last December alongside his son, Charlie, where they fell in a playoff. The 36-hole scramble allows players to use a golf cart — a convenience that’s standard at every PGA Tour Champions event.
Woods appeared in all four majors in 2024, finishing 60th at the Masters and missing the cut in the other three. His biggest challenge wasn’t his swing — it was walking the course. That struggle traces back to a 2021 car crash that required emergency surgery to repair multiple fractures in his tibia and fibula.
In the three years since, Woods has played eight majors, making the weekend twice (2022 and 2024 Masters), withdrawing from two events and missing four cuts.
The Champions tour offers two key advantages for Woods: a 54-hole format instead of 72 and the option to ride in a cart. With one fewer round and less strain on his legs, Woods could realistically contend when he chooses to play between majors.
“To be honest, after his last surgery, I just hope Tiger gets back on his feet and can play golf again,” Brady said.
While Woods won’t be competing for now, he announced on social media that he plans to attend every match for his Jupiter Links Golf Club in TGL’s second season. The league kicks off in late December, with Jupiter Links’ first match set for Jan. 13, 2026.
Golfweek’s Adam Schupak contributed to this report.
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