By Julio Cesar Valdera MoralesShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberTiger Woods' health has been a cause for concern among fans for quite some time now. So far, 2025 has been no exception, with a ruptured Achilles tendon and a back surgery postponing his return to the courses indefinitely.
However, as frequent as his injuries have been, so too have his comebacks. More than one fan hopes that the 15-time major champion can still pull a spectacular comeback out of his sleeve before definitively moving on to the next stage of his career.
Those who think so received a boost from Notah Begay III, a well-known former PGA Tour star and current golf commentator who is also a good friend of Woods. During a recent interview on Trey Wingo's "Straight Facts Homie" podcast, Begay offered a 5-word statement to qualify Woods' current shape:
"He’s in tremendous physical condition," he said.
Begay praised Woods’ impressive form but acknowledged that his feet remain the lingering concern.
“I think the biggest problem in the conversations that I’ve had with him is the walking," he said. "That’s it. He hits it great; he’s in tremendous physical condition. His ball speeds are fast enough, they’re 175-180, which is adequate for the PGA Tour. It’s just: can he walk 72 holes plus a pro-am? I don’t know, and that’s the big question."
...Begay did not rule out the possibility that Woods could still play on the PGA Tour in the near future. On the contrary, he even mentioned some venues that would suit him well in his current condition.
"A major championship venue with flatter terrain," he said. "Hilton Head, with flatter terrain, Colonial, with flatter terrain, might be targets. And those are venues that he’s never typically played at. He’s played Colonial once and never went back. And I don’t think he’s ever been to Hilton Head. Those are two things that you may see at some point.”
For those unfamiliar with the inner workings of the PGA Tour, Colonial Country Club has hosted the tournament currently known as the Charles Schwab Challenge since 1946. Hilton Head, meanwhile, is a resort town in South Carolina, home to Harbour Town Golf Links, which has hosted the tournament currently known as the RBC Heritage since 1969.
Due to his high status on the PGA Tour Priority List, Woods could play both tournaments next year without too much hassle.
Notah Begay III hopes to see Tiger Woods on the Senior Tour soon
Naturally, Woods' possible move to the PGA Tour Champions at some point next season has not gone unnoticed by Begay. The four-time PGA Tour winner believes that his friend will not only play on the Senior Tour, but will also enjoy doing so.
“We’re also dying to see him on the Champions Tour. He can take a cart, and the walking becomes alleviated at that point. I think he’s going to try it," Begay added on the podcast. 'You can only sit in your house and think about golf and hit balls at the range for so long. You wanna go out and see if you can beat somebody. I do think he will try it, and I hope he likes it. The world of golf with Tiger is just so much better and so much more fun, even if we see glimpses from time to time.”
Woods will turn 50 on December 30, which will qualify him to play on the PGA Tour Champions, the Senior stage of the PGA Tour, next season.
More Golf: Senior Stars Warn Tiger Woods’ Eligibility Could Trouble PGA Tour
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