{"id":842974,"date":"2026-08-04T07:48:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T07:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/842974\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T07:48:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T07:48:13","slug":"tiger-woods-rival-says-golf-legend-is-warming-to-surprise-comeback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/842974\/","title":{"rendered":"Tiger Woods Rival Says Golf Legend Is Warming to Surprise Comeback"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Tiger\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Tiger Woods<\/a> may be closer to returning to competitive golf<\/a> than many fans expected.<\/p>\n

The 15-time major champion has not competed since withdrawing from plans to return earlier this year following another injury setback. While a return to the PGA Tour remains uncertain, four-time major champion Ernie Els<\/a> says Woods has become increasingly open to another path back to tournament golf.<\/p>\n

According to Els, recent conversations with Woods suggest the golf icon is beginning to warm to the idea of competing on the PGA Tour Champions now that he is eligible after turning 50.<\/p>\n

Ernie Els Says Tiger Woods Is Warming to the Champions Tour<\/p>\n

Woods celebrated his 50th birthday this year, making him eligible to compete on the PGA Tour Champions for the first time.<\/p>\n

For years, Woods has maintained his focus on returning to the PGA Tour, believing he could still compete against the game\u2019s best players despite multiple surgeries and injuries.<\/p>\n

Els, however, says Woods has recently shown more interest in the senior circuit.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s always welcome; he knows that,\u201d Els said<\/a>. \u201cWe had the discussion about the Champions Tour, and he asked me about it, and he started warming to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Els said Woods continues balancing golf with numerous responsibilities away from the course.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a busy guy; he\u2019s got a lot of responsibility. He\u2019s always been very busy, shifting around the last four or five years, a lot of stuff behind the scenes,\u201d Els continued. \u201cI\u2019ll keep knocking on his door. I think this is the type of golf course that would really suit him.\u201d<\/p>\n

If Woods eventually joins the Champions Tour, it would reunite him with many of the players he battled throughout his career while introducing him to a new competitive schedule that may better fit his current physical condition.<\/p>\n

Tiger Woods Has Already Discussed the Possibility Publicly<\/p>\n

Throwback to when Tiger Woods sunk a mega flop shot during the opening round at the 2015 Wyndham Championship \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n

Via: @Skratch<\/a> <\/p>\n

Woods has previously acknowledged that the Champions Tour has become more appealing because players are allowed to use golf carts during competition.<\/p>\n

Walking 72 holes has become one of the biggest obstacles in his recovery after multiple back surgeries and leg injuries.<\/p>\n

Speaking at this year\u2019s Genesis Invitational, Woods explained why the Champions Tour has entered the conversation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had a fused back and now a disc replacement, so it\u2019s challenging,\u201d Woods said. \u201cAnd now I entered a new decade, so that number is starting to sink in and has us thinking about the opportunity to be able to play in a cart.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also made clear why he views the senior circuit differently than the PGA Tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s something that, as I said, I won\u2019t do out here on this tour because I don\u2019t believe in it. But on the Champions Tour, that\u2019s certainly that opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Broadcaster Shares Story About Ernie Els Talking About Tiger Woods\u2019 Dominance<\/p>\n

As discussions about Woods\u2019 future continue, longtime Golf Channel broadcaster Rich Lerner recently reflected on just how dominant Woods was during the height of his career.<\/p>\n

During an appearance on the \u201cSubpar\u201d podcast with Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz<\/a>, Lerner discussed his new book, \u201cAren\u2019t You That Golf Guy?\u201d and shared one of his favorite stories involving Els.<\/p>\n

Lerner recalled interviewing Els before the 2011 U.S. Open and asking how Woods\u2019 dominance affected the rest of the tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cI asked Ernie Els\u2026 all these years later, how do you view that period of time and Tiger\u2019s impact on you?\u201d Lerner said.<\/p>\n

Els told him about a conversation with his father during Woods\u2019 historic run in 2000.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, about 2000, my own father, he said to me, \u2018Why don\u2019t you stand up to that man?\u2019 And I said to my own father, I said, \u2018You have no (expletive) idea what we\u2019re dealing with.’\u201d<\/p>\n

Lerner said the response captured exactly what it was like competing against Woods during his prime.<\/p>\n

\u201cThink about that,\u201d Lerner said. \u201c\u2018You have no idea what we\u2019re dealing with,\u2019 as if Tiger were a force of nature, like a tsunami, that couldn\u2019t be handled. And, he was. I mean, they didn\u2019t have an answer for the guy. They just didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n