As Tiger Woods prepares to turn 50, he is eligible to compete on the PGA Tour Champions, with the golf legend set to receive a warm welcome from former PGA Tour stars like Ernie Els

Tiger Woods has gone 10 months without featuring on the PGA Tour

Former World No. 1 Ernie Els has thrown down the gauntlet to Tiger Woods, declaring “beat us again… if you can” ahead of a potential switch to the PGA Tour Champions for the soon-to-be 50 year old.

Woods, 49, will become eligible to compete on the senior golf circuit when he hits the milestone 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day on December 30, with entry restricted to golfers aged 50 and above. The 15-time major champion previously dropped hints about a possible transition to the tour following his missed cut at last year’s U.S. Open.

Since that disappointment, he hasn’t teed up in a single PGA Tour tournament. Following back surgery last September, which sidelined him for the latter half of last season, he suffered a torn Achilles in March, completely crushing his comeback dreams for 2025.

This has left Woods with a mere 13 tournament appearances over the past five years, none resulting in a top 25 placement. The struggles include failing to make the weekend in four of his most recent six major championship outings, only intensifying his disappointment.

Nevertheless, reaching the half-century mark could unlock a fresh opportunity for Woods on the Senior Tour. With his ambition focused on competing in all the majors and perhaps one or two additional events annually, a move to the 54-hole tournament format could prove advantageous going forward.

Should he choose to make that leap, Els would roll out the red carpet, though the South African has already delivered Woods a pointed message regarding any potential transition. “Beat us again … if you can,” Els told Golf Week.

When asked if he believes Woods will join the 50-and-older circuit, he added: “I hope so. I’ve said, please come play. 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.”

Ernie Els had a message for Tiger Woods(Image: Getty)

Speaking last year, fellow pro Padraig Harrington hinted that Woods might target a historic Grand Slam of U.S. Open wins by entering the PGA Tour Champions.

No player has ever captured the U.S. Junior Amateur, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, and U.S. Senior Open during their career, and if Woods were to chase this unprecedented Grand Slam, he would become the most decorated USGA Champion of all time.

“He’d love to win that Grand Slam and get some of the other senior majors on his CV,” Seniors star Harrington told Golfweek in 2024.

“I saw him at the [PNC Championship] and we were just crossing paths and he laughed at me. I won’t say exactly what he said, but the gist of it was he can’t wait to get out and beat me.

“Taking a cart changes everything for him,” 2006 U.S. Open winner Geoff Ogilvy said at the time. “Interest both from fans and sponsors is going to be through the roof.

“I think there’s a good chance that Champions Tour ratings can top the PGA Tour when he decides to play. And what else is he going to?”.