Is Tiger Woods eligible for Senior tournaments? Eligibility explored

Tiger Woods will be turning 49 years old on December 30. This means that the American is just a year away from being eligible to compete in the PGA Tour Champions circuit, also known as the Senior Tour.

The PGA Tour Champions circuit is meant for the professional male golfers who are aged 50 and over. Woods, who was born on December 30, 1975, will meet this requirement at the end of 2025 and he would be eligible to play from the 2026 season onwards.

Given the golf legend's history with leg injuries, he had to withdraw from several events this year due to not being able to walk on course for 72 holes. However, the PGA Tour Champions allows its players to use golf carts during tournament rounds. This would alleviate the 82-time PGA Tour winner of his chronic pain issues.

However, it is unlikely that the 2019 Augusta Masters winner will commit to a full schedule. Given his focus on participating in select PGA Tour events this season to focus on his health, its highly likely that he will take the same approach into the Champions circuit.

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Tiger Woods' former rivals are eager for him to join the PGA Tour Champions

During an exclusive interview with Golf Digest, Rocco Mediate talked about the PGA Tour Champions field. The 62-year-old felt that Woods moving into the circuit would cause more hype and increase the stakes among the field.

He said (via Golf Digest):

"I like it noisy. I like more people. I can't wait. What else are you gonna do? That'd be the only thing I'd say to him. If he's healthy, he can still compete on the regular tour as long as he wants. But if he's not, he can ride around in a cart out here, which he'll do because it's ok out here. And it's competition, and it's another era to break all the records. It'd be great to have him back, and he'll have a ball. It's all his buddies. It's all his friends."

During last week's 2024 PNC Championship, Padraig Harrington spoke to Woods about the matter. He indicated that the PGA Tour superstar has intent to play the PGA Tour Champions sometime in the future. The two engaged in friendly banter. Recalling the conversation, the Irishman said (via Golf Digest):

“I think his words were, ‘I can’t wait to beat you out on the Champions Tour or something like that’. He doesn’t want me to have it all my own way, let’s put it like that! I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Woods' move to the Senior Tour would mean a huge deal for the golf world. Fans and his fellow competitors are eager to see what he chooses to do after he turns 50 next year.