Ernie Els isn't waiting for Tiger Woods to call. He's doing the knocking himself, and he says Woods is starting to come around to the idea.

Ernie Els, a four-time major champion, revealed in an interview reported by GolfMagic on July 29, 2026, that he has held private talks with Woods about competing on the PGA Tour Champions. Woods turned 50 last year, making him eligible for the over-50 circuit for the first time.

Speaking to the media, Els said of those conversations, "He's always welcome [on the PGA Tour Champions]. We had the discussion about the Champions Tour, and he asked me about it, and he started warming to it. He's a busy guy; he's got a lot of responsibility. He's always been very busy, shifting around the last four or five years, a lot of stuff behind the scenes."

Els added, "I'll keep knocking on his door."

The context makes the hint all the more significant. Woods has not played a competitive event since the 2024 Open at Royal Troon. He was set to return at the 2026 Masters after his seventh back surgery, but was arrested in late March on DUI charges following a rollover crash near his Jupiter Island home in Florida. He has denied the charges.

He then went through a 90-day rehabilitation program in Switzerland. Because of this, he missed all four men’s major tournaments in 2026. It was the second year in a row that he missed every major championship. He appeared in public for the first time since taking a break at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut. There, he officially supported changes to the PGA Tour, but he did not answer questions about his legal case.

Els said that Woods has many responsibilities away from golf, which is one reason the discussion has taken a long time. Woods is a member of the PGA Tour policy board and is the chairman of the Future Competitions Committee. This committee helped create the new Championship and Challenger Series plan that will begin in 2028.

The legal case is continuing in the background.

What's Happening With Tiger Woods' Court Case

A judge in Florida has allowed investigators to get Woods’ prescription medicine records as part of the investigation into the crash that happened in March.

A court order was made to keep the details private and away from the public.

The records cover prescriptions filled in the period leading up to the crash. Prosecutors argue the documents are relevant to determining whether medication played a role in the incident. Woods' legal team had previously challenged the request, arguing his medical information should remain private.

According to GolfMagic, Woods is likely to make his next appearance at the PGA Tour's parent/child event in December alongside his son Charlie, and may also tee up at the Hero World Challenge in the same month.

Do you think Tiger Woods will ever compete on the PGA Tour Champions?

Written by

Sneha Abraham