The 15-time major champion, 48, recently underwent another surgery and The First Call readers opine as to how competitive Woods will be in the coming years

uestion of the week [September 16-22]: Tiger Woods had another surgery performed on Sept. 13, and is expected to be out between eight and 12 weeks. In 2024, Woods played all four majors for the first time since 2019, but made the cut only at the Masters. What should be the realistic competitive expectations for Woods, 48, going forward?

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It’s realistic to believe that Tiger Woods has a low round or two in his bag of tricks. What’s hard to picture is a grueling slog to a major championship.

Tiger will always be important and a stage-setter and a leader of the game. Is he the greatest of all time?

Tony AustinOrlando, Florida—————

Tiger Woods has had a great career. What he’s doing now only tarnishes his legacy. He simply needs to retire from the PGA Tour until he turns 50 and play the senior tour using a cart.

Chuck DunlapLexington, South Carolina—————

At some point Tiger Woods needs to focus on his health as to how it relates to the remainder of his life. Despite his many surgeries, Woods should have many more decades on this earth. In that regard, Woods should start to focus on the next 40 years and how he can live in physical comfort thus enjoying life to the maximum. Woods’ overall health and comfort is far more important than a few more starts at the majors.

Reid FarrillToronto, Ontario—————

Quit covering Tiger Woods like he is a golfer that moves the golf needle these days. His time has long passed him by with age, surgeries and a speeding car wreck — plus when that 1-iron went upside his head during his cheating scandal. He can’t physically put four championship rounds together anymore to even contend.

John NelmsAdvance, North Carolina—————

If he can use a golf cart, I don’t see why he can’t win 10 senior majors. Assuming he’d allow himself to take a cart!

For that matter, he could probably win a few more regular majors if he didn’t have to walk four rounds. Tiger Rules anyone? Hmmm …

John D. Porter IIICharlotte, North Carolina—————

Tiger Woods hasn’t been competitive for years despite the sycophants on Golf Channel and Jim Nantz et al acting as though he could not only make the cut, but win.

They run the same playbook: A couple of tour pros like Justin Thomas or Max Homa will say “he’s hitting it great” on Tuesday-Wednesday. The great man himself will say, “I feel healthy. I don’t play unless I think I can win.” The media nod and genuflect.

Then he sucks the air out of the first two days of each major as TV covers him from arrival at the course to departure Friday after a missed cut. All the while, Woods studiously ignores his delusional fans calling his name.

So “realistic expectations” becomes an interpretation. Realistically, he shouldn’t play. But if past history is his prologue, realistically he will.

Vinny MooneyPoughkeepsie, New York—————

Although I am a Tiger Woods fan, I have absolutely no positive expectations as to his PGA Tour playing future. At this time, the body overrules the will. I hope I’m wrong.

I do think we’ll see him in a limited number of Champions Tour events, mostly majors (where he can ride a cart) and based on their timing and conflicts with the regular majors. He may use a Champions event to prepare for a tour event, just to get tournament reps, but save the back and legs a little.

I think Tiger will still have a face in the game as PIF negotiations move forward and as the PGA Tour possibly revamps some changes in the FedEx Cup points race. But as far as a player, I think Woods fans will continue with hope, but be left with disappointment.

Barry DuckworthKnoxville, Tennessee—————

Tiger Woods has played the four majors this year because he must remain in the spotlight as long as possible. His earnings from sponsors will dry up once he is no longer competing.

We have short memories as it relates to professional athletes. When they are no longer competitive, they tend to be dismissed. He has persevered for several years while amassing a well-deserved fortune. However, going forward he will continue to miss cuts if he does decide to enter tournaments. When there is no upside, it is time to enjoy the fruits of his labors.

Dennis BrissetteHeathrow, Florida—————

He’ll probably play again in 2025, but that’s all. No wins, likely no cuts made. He’s in denial and the sooner he snaps out of it and gets on with the rest of life without golfing, the better off he’ll be. He can captain Ryder and Presidents Cup teams if he wants.

Rick NowosadCalgary, Alberta—————

It’s over. Like all the greatest athletes, he refuses to see the reality. I saw Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle as they stumbled to the end — Tiger Woods is no different.

The will may be there, but his injury-wracked body and Father Time say a loud “No!” Yes, he can shoot the occasional decent score or make the occasional great shot. Hell, at the age of 75, I shot 71 at my local muni, breaking par for the first time in my life, but I normally score in the low to mid-80s and that’s where my game is and I understand that. Woods simply is not the great Tiger he was and never will be again.

Norm Fisher  Lake Worth, Florida—————

It is always painful to contemplate the end of an era, just as it is with a family member, but with Tiger Woods, it’s somehow different. For those who knew the greats before Tiger came along, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer especially — I never saw Hogan — you knew Woods was capable of great things. If you only knew the Tiger era, he was the greatest thing since sliced bread and would never be surpassed in terms of sheer talent and ability.

Those abilities that once routinely amazed us may continue, but it is naive to think he’ll still amaze us the same way. But that said, it’s hard to say we’ve already begun getting used to the end of the Tiger Era.

Pete CroppoBayfield, Ontario—————

No matter how confident he feels his problem is the players behind him. They have benefited from the level of dedication and training he showed when he first played. They have applied that to their program and will pass him.

Bruce MillerSeal Beach, California—————

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Front: Tiger Woods during the opening round of 152nd Open Championship, played at Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland.