Tiger Woods Considers PGA Tour Champions Return as Scheffler Nears Earnings Record

Tiger Woods is seriously considering a move to the PGA Tour Champions, a significant potential shift for the 50 year old legend. This development comes as current world number one Scottie Scheffler is poised to end Woods's 26 year reign atop the PGA Tour's career money list this weekend.

Is Tiger Woods heading for the senior tour?

Ernie Els, a four time major champion now playing on the PGA Tour Champions, revealed in July that he has personally discussed the possibility with Woods. According to Els, Woods wasn't just listening. He started asking questions about it. "He's always welcome; he knows that," Els said. "We had the discussion about the Champions Tour, and he asked me about it, and he started warming to it."

Woods turned 50 last December, making him eligible for the senior circuit. While he has not announced any plans or set a date for a competitive return, this marks a notable change in his thinking. Els added that he believes the style of courses on the Champions Tour would suit Woods well. The 15 time major champion has a busy September ahead, with a court appearance scheduled for September 8 and a potential public appearance at the Nexus Cup in New York six days later.

Will Scottie Scheffler pass Tiger Woods's earnings record?

Scottie Scheffler needs to earn just over $600,000 at the Tour Championship to pass Tiger Woods as the number one player on the PGA Tour's all time career money list. Woods has held the top spot since February 2000, with total earnings of $120,199,166. After a third round 66 on Saturday, August 29, Scheffler was tied for third heading into the final round at East Lake, three shots behind leader Viktor Hovland.

Any finish in the top 13 at the season ending event will secure the record for Scheffler. Rory McIlroy, in third place with $117.85 million, could also pass Woods on Sunday. The winner at the Tour Championship receives a $10 million check, with $5 million for second place. Scheffler's impending record comes with the context of inflation and significantly larger purses in the modern era. Adjusted for inflation using the U.S. Consumer Price Index, Woods's career earnings equate to $202.8 million.

How did Tiger Woods honor Tim Finchem?

The recent news that former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has Alzheimer's disease brought back a poignant memory from the World Golf Hall of Fame induction in March 2022. Tiger Woods and Finchem, whose tenure defined the "Tiger Years," were inducted together that night. They sat side by side in the front row at the Tour's new headquarters. Finchem concluded his remarks by publicly thanking his wife Holly, to whom he had been married for nearly 40 years. The moment was a touching display of respect between two figures who shaped the modern game, a connection highlighted again by Holly Finchem's recent public revelation about her husband's health.

• PGA Tour Champions Interest: Tiger Woods has discussed joining the senior tour with Ernie Els and is "warming to" the idea.
• Earnings Record: Scottie Scheffler is on the verge of ending Tiger Woods's 26 year hold on the PGA Tour career money list at the Tour Championship.
• Inflation Adjusted: When adjusted for inflation, Woods's career earnings are worth approximately $202.8 million, a figure that remains monumental.
• Upcoming Appearances: Woods has a court date scheduled for September 8 and may appear at the Nexus Cup in New York on September 14.