The only player widely recognized as a true competitor who could challenge Tiger Woods’s dominance among golf’s all-time greats is none other than Ernie Els. Els and Woods’s relationship has always been a complex blend of admiration and rivalry. “The talent of the man is just amazing. The shots that he played and the best closer I’ve ever seen in my life.” Els said in an interview with Graham Bensinger. While Els openly praises Woods as the most talented player and the best closer he’s ever seen, he does not shy away from being brutally honest about Woods’s game. Like I said, their relationship is a blend of sweet and sour.

“I don’t wanna sound like sour grapes. Playing against him in the United States gave him a little bit of a; I wouldn’t say upper hand, but he was a bit more comfortable maybe than I was.” Ernie Els’s comments from some time back reflected a clear sense that Tiger Woods had an advantage by playing most majors in the U.S., where he felt more at home. Els isn’t blaming fans, but he’s acknowledging that Woods’s familiarity with the courses and conditions gave him an edge.

And once again, Big Easy has hinted that the rivalry might run deeper despite the decades that have passed.

At a recent press conference during the Senior PGA Championship in Bethesda, Maryland, on Thursday, May 22, 2025, Ernie Els was asked a simple, straightforward question about whether the location of a tournament win matters. He replied, “Well, I was lucky enough to have won at good ones… No, I don’t think you absolutely should care. It’s not up to you where they put the venues.” According to him, if you have the trophy, the location shouldn’t matter at all.

A win is a win, no matter which course. But just seconds later, he took a bit of a U-turn, saying, “If you play good enough and win a major, if you win it at Torrey Pines, so be it. Not meaning Torrey Pines is not a good golf course; it’s a different kind of course. But no, you take a major where you get one, I promise you.”  A bit of damage control from Big Easy? Regardless, Els picking Torrey Pines to compare with the course where he has his own- Oakmont, Congressional, Muirfield, and Royal Lytham & St. Annes- is a curious case indeed.

More so because of Woods’s history there. The 15-time major winner won the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, which is widely regarded as one of his most memorable victories, as he played with a broken leg. Besides that, he has also won at Torrey Pines seven other times, including lifting the Farmers Insurance Open Trophy back-to-back four times between 2005 and 2008. Els, teed off at Torrey Pines only four times in his life, the T5 at the 2010 Farmers Insurance Open being his best show.

So, when Big Easy calls Torrey Pines “a different kind of a course,” it’s bound to come off as a dig implying that winning at Torrey Pines might not be as prestigious or challenging as winning at some of the more traditional major championship venues like Oakmont, Muirfield, or Lytham. But then Els doesn’t hold back when it comes to sharing his bold thoughts. In fact, the veteran golfer has another piece of advice for his fellow pro: join him at the Senior Tour soon.

Ernie Els Thinks It’s Time for Woods to Join the Champions Tour

While Els has had his share of subtle digs at Tiger Woods over the years, he’s also offering something that sounds a lot like genuine advice. Speaking ahead of the Senior PGA Championship, Els said Woods should definitely be thinking about joining the Champions Tour as he comes close to 50 “Yeah, I think he should be. I think it would be good for everybody, for him included, obviously.” Els said. He went a step further, suggesting that with Woods’s level of talent, the senior circuit could offer more than just a graceful exit.

“With that kind of talent, you can probably have a chance here and there until he’s 60 to maybe even have a contention to maybe win a major.” Els added, Maybe it’s time for Woods to stop playing the occasional PGA Tour event on a limp and start getting back into real tournament mode with guys in a similar phase of life. In Els’s eyes, that could even put the 82-time PGA Tour winner in contention for senior majors until he’s 60; with his talent, he can thrive. And if Els is right, could we be looking at Tiger Woods not just returning but actually contending again this time in senior majors?