Tiger Woods advised over drastic ‘no-brainer’ move as ex-rival ‘feels sorry’ for him

Tiger Woods has received advice from a former rival on how to approach the next phase of his career. The golfing legend has struggled in recent major tournaments, largely due to injuries that have hampered his performance and kept him from securing his 16th major title.

As Woods nears eligibility for the PGA Tour Champions, a circuit for players aged 50 and older, some believe this could be a strategic move to help him regain his form. The PGA Tour Champions features shorter, 54-hole events that might allow Woods to gradually build his fitness, especially since players are permitted to use golf carts to navigate the courses.

Michael Campbell, who famously beat Woods at the 2005 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, has suggested that joining the PGA Tour Champions would be a smart move for Woods. At 48, Woods has struggled to perform at his best, shooting over-par in eight of his nine rounds in major tournaments this year.

“It would be great for the Champions Tour to have him on board,” Campbell shared with Bunkered. “With the Champions Tour, it’s only three rounds of golf and he’s on a cart, which will help him manage his injuries. He might use these events as a warm-up for the majors. He’s got a scorecard in his back pocket and he’s not putting too much strain on his leg, so there’s a good chance he could prepare for the Open or the Masters this way. To me, it’s a no-brainer.”

Campbell, now 55, reflected on how tough the past few years have been for Woods, who has battled injuries since a nearly fatal car accident in 2021. These injuries have significantly affected his mobility and ability to compete at the highest level.

“I feel sorry for him. Throughout my career, I played a lot with him. He was incredible. But to see how he’s playing now… it’s hard to watch,” Campbell admitted.

Woods has only participated in four tournaments this year, and his performances have been far from his best. Campbell emphasized the difficulty of Woods’ current approach, which involves only playing in the majors, typically on the most challenging courses.

“It’s tough for Tiger to come back and play only in the majors on the four toughest golf courses,” Campbell continued. “He might need to reconsider his schedule because it’s not realistic to expect to play well after not competing for three or four months. Even though he’s Tiger Woods, that’s a major challenge.”

Campbell’s advice underscores the reality that even a player of Woods’ caliber needs to adapt to changing circumstances. As Woods contemplates the next steps in his illustrious career, the PGA Tour Champions might offer him a pathway to maintaining his competitive edge while managing his physical limitations.