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Ernie Els hopes he’ll have the opportunity to compete against Tiger Woods again next year on the PGA Tour Champions. He thinks the senior circuit would be a benefit to the 15-time major champ as well.
Els was asked about Woods earlier this week at the groundbreaking of an autism friendly recreation complex at the Els Centre of Excellence in Jupiter.
“I’ve said, please come play. And I think it can only be beneficial to him,” the four-time major champ said, according to the Palm Beach Post. “He will get himself in golf shape. You can ride a cart without any shame and if there was one guy that should be able to drive a cart, it’s him. . . . And he can get his butt back in shape.”
Woods didn’t make a PGA Tour start during the 2025 season after rupturing his Achilles in March. With his 50th birthday coming up in December, the 82-time PGA Tour winner will be eligible for the PGA Tour Champions in 2026.
Els, who has played on the PGA Tour Champions since 2020 and has seven wins on the senior circuit, famously finished runner-up to Woods at two majors in 2000 plus lost an epic duel with him at Kapalua that year. But while he’d be happy to reunite with Woods, he also issued a challenge to his longtime peer and rival.
“Beat us again . . . if you can,” Els said.
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Main Image: Stuart Franklin
