“If there was one guy that should be able to drive a cart, it’s him.” That’s what Ernie Els said back in August when he cheekily challenged Tiger Woods to come and compete on the senior tour. While Els’ message was a playful jab, it came with a reality check: Woods’ body isn’t what it used to be. Given his recent physical woes, riding a cart may be the only option left, and now insiders suggest that the PGA Tour should make an exception.

On a recent episode of The Rough Cut Golf Podcast, popular YouTuber and coach Danny Maude sat down with Peter Finch to talk about Woods’ current physical state and whether it’s even realistic for him to return to high-level competition without some help. Finch recalled watching Woods at last year’s Open Championship, describing his session on the range as “one of the most impressive things” he’d seen simply because of his consistency. “Every single ball flight that he was hitting…. was through the same window, … and it was just so consistent,” Finch claimed.

But as Finch confessed, the entire session wasn’t without pain. “He’d hit a few shots, then take a step back, and even just stepping back, you could see how uncomfortable he was,” he told Maude. That’s when the conversation turned to the elephant in the room, with Peter Finch suggesting, “Yeah, if you know, if the PGA wanna get it together and say, we will make an exception for this guy. Like, he can take a cart.”

It’s a suggestion that, not long ago, would’ve seemed absurd. But now? It’s the only option, especially after Woods underwent his seventh back surgery just last week, a lumbar disc replacement to address a collapsed disc. “I opted to have my disc replaced yesterday, and I already know I made a good decision for my health and my back,” Woods shared via social media the day after surgery.

Over the years, he’s been through numerous surgeries, and this one, like the rest, will require months of structured rehab just to regain basic mobility, let alone walk 18 holes four days in a row.

And just recently, an expert, Gavin Routledge, warned that after this surgery, he “honestly can’t see a way out for him.”  While Routledge wasn’t too optimistic about Woods’ return to competitive golf because “the risk of further complications just keeps rising,” if he does want to return to playing, the PGA Tour will need to let go of the rule of not using a cart during tournaments for him.

But even if the PGA Tour does grant him an exception, Woods is very adamant about not using a cart for the PGA Tour events, even though he has in the past, as Finch suggested, “it’s all kind of cart golf” over the last few years.

Tiger Woods has been particular about not using a golf cart

While the suggestion from Peter Finch is great, Tiger Woods has always been particular about not using a golf cart during PGA Tour events. Back in 2022, following his withdrawal from the Hero World Challenge, Woods was asked if he would ever consider taking a cart in a PGA Tour event. His answer was a firm “no.”

He explained, “On the PGA Tour, no. On the sanctioned events where it’s allowed? Yes. Which is the Champions Tour, the PNC, things of that nature.” This highlights his respect for the Tour’s traditional walking rule, which dates back to 1997 and is seen as part of the sport’s challenge and integrity.

That said, Woods has been more flexible in other events. In 2024, he was seen using a cart at the PNC Championship, where he partnered with his son, Charlie Woods. This event is sanctioned by the PGA Tour Champions, which permits carts in most cases except for select senior majors. And Woods was given an exception here because he had undergone his sixth back surgery in September 2024 and had spent weeks in rehabilitation.

With the new challenges he faces, many argue it’s time for the PGA Tour to rethink this tradition, at least for Tiger Woods, who has done so much for the game.