Paul Azinger thinks Tiger Woods feels ‘obligated’ to play senior tour. Here’s why
A much younger Paul Azinger and Tiger Woods at the 2002 Ryder Cup at the Belfry in England.
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Paul Azinger and Bernhard Langer know more about the PGA Tour Champions — the current moniker for the PGA Tour’s senior circuit — than just about anyone. And on Friday they both made a prediction about the tour that is sure to turn heads. The prediction? Tiger Woods will tee it up with the seniors before long.
The two golf legends made their comments on Friday at Tiburon Golf Club promoting the PGA Tour Champions’ Chubb Classic.
And their words are worth taking seriously. For Azinger, quite literally. The former Tour pro was recently named Golf Channel’s lead analyst for PGA Tour Champions broadcasts.
And Azinger had a lot of words to share about the prospects of Tiger joining the senior tour.
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“I feel like there’s going to be great anticipation for Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods will be eligible for the tournament Bernhard finished second in last week. The big question is whether or not Tiger is going to play, what’s that going to do to this tour. You’ve got all those giant names on this tour, and you bring Tiger in, I think the global media shows up immediately. I’m talking about the global media.
“Then all of a sudden the focus is on this tour. I believe there’s a lot of anticipation. A lot of guys are going to be in shape and ready and try to beat Tiger if they can.”
But Azinger went a step further. He thinks that Woods might feel an “obligation” to play alongside the older pros on the PGA Tour Champions. Why? Because he’s benefitted financially from the PGA Tour’s Player Impact Program.
“I think Tiger might even feel an obligation to play the Tour,” Azinger declared. “The Tour has given Tiger a lot of money the last few years with that Player Impact Program. I’m sure he’s going to give back, and it’s going to be to all the benefit of these guys out here that are over 50.”
Woods won last year’s PIP, a popularity ranking, earning $10 million (he got $15 million for winning the year before). But that will be the last time. The PGA Tour’s PIP era is now over.
Langer’s take on Tiger
Langer’s PGA Tour Champions credentials are even more legit. In addition to two Masters titles and 42 European Tour wins (second all-time), Langer has the most senior tour wins in history, a whopping 47 and counting.
He is one on the greatest pro golfers in history. But he is without a doubt the single greatest senior player of all time. And he’s “convinced” Tiger will tee it up on the older circuit soon, too.
“It would be a thrill to see Tiger come out and play the Champions Tour,” Langer said on Friday, “and I’m convinced he will play several. Depends how many.”
And Langer’s opinion may be informed by some insider information. As he explained in his Friday press conference, Langer played alongside Tiger and his son Charlie at the PNC Championship in December. In fact, Langer and his son Jason beat Tiger and Charlie in a playoff to win the event.
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Langer described the experience as “a thrill” and took note of Tiger’s competitive fire. The takeaway? Tiger isn’t done with tournament golf yet.
“Tiger still loves the game. He’s still very competitive, and he enjoys watching his son get better and better at the game, and Charlie loves it, so I think he will stick with it,” Langer explained.
Players must be 50 years old to be eligible to play the PGA Tour Champions. Woods, now 49, turns 50 on December 30th of this year. That means he could hypotehtically make his PGA Tour Champions debut one year from now. And Langer knows the massive impact Tiger could have on the senior tour.
“When he comes out… he always moves the needle. He’s a very exciting personality to watch, and it would be fantastic for Tiger and for our tour to be competing out there, and I think all the players would welcome him, and it would be an interesting competition because the guys… are very good,” Langer said. “It’s the only major senior tour in the world, so you get the best players from all over the world to compete in this, and we only have 78 Tour cards basically, so it’s a very, very tough tour to get on, and only the best make it.”
One question remains…
But the big question unaddressed by either aging legend is whether Woods’ body can handle the competition, whether he wants to play or not.
Given the state of his legs and back after repeated surgeries over the years, Tiger may only be capable of playing a few tournaments a year. And he’s consistently said that he wants to continue playing in golf’s four majors as long as he can.
No doubt the majors will take priority over the senior tour, but a few PGA Tour Champions starts a year could be possible.
We’ll get a better idea in the coming year as Woods mounts his latest comeback from injury.
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