Senior PGA Championship makes those in the Lakewood Ranch area dream big

For sports fans all over the world, Dec. 30, 1975 was a significant day.

And now, it's even more significant for those of us in East County.

It was the day Eldrick Tont Woods was born in Cypress, California.

You know him as Tiger.

So why is that significant for those of us in East County?

It was announced in May that the 2026 Senior PGA Championship is being hosted by The Concession from April 16-19. It marks the first of three consecutive Senior PGA Championships that will be hosted by The Concession.

Since Woods turns 50 in December, he will be eligible for the tournament, and for the Champions Tour in general.

Woods hasn't said if he plans to play on the Champions Tour, or if he wants to play the senior majors. But could we be so lucky?

We always can dream.

With his myriad physical problems, Woods hasn't been a competitive factor since 2019, but who wouldn't want to see him playing right here in the Lakewood Ranch area?

The "Tiger effect" is not lost on The Concession Golf Club owner Bruce Cassidy.

Cassidy remembered when Woods entered Palm Harbor's Valspar Championship in 2018 at the Innisbrook Resort. He said interest in the event "easily doubled."

Earlier this season, Jack Nicklaus was asked whether he thought Woods would play on the Champions Tour next this season. He was quoted by Golfweek as saying, "When he gets in a cart, he'll tear it up, absolutely.” 

Certainly, health will be a big part of Woods' decision. He has had back and Achilles tendon surgeries this year, part of more than 25 surgeries during his golf career.

In 2025, he didn't play an event on the PGA Tour. In 2024, he played five events, but missed three cuts with one withdrawal. He didn't have a top 25 finish.

From the 2020-2021 season to the 2022-2023 season, he played eight events with no top 25 finishes.

He last victory came Oct. 27, 2019 at the Zozo Championship. His previous win was the Masters on April 14, 2019.

The last time Tiger played like Tiger through an entire season was 2013 when he won five events.

But, admit it, if Woods is playing at The Concession, your interest level in the event goes way up.

One bonus going into the Senior PGA Championship is that players can ask for a medical exemption to ride a cart. Could that be a deciding factor for Woods?

Whether or not Woods, who is tied with Sam Sneed for the most PGA Tour victories in history with 82, has any interest in playing the senior majors might be whether he wants to have some fun with his former peers. If he still feels he can win on the regular tour, it might not happen.

After all, Phil Mickelson won a major, the 2021 PGA Championship, and became the oldest major winner ever at 50. Woods spent much of his career one-upping anything that Mickelson could do.

Speaking of Mickelson, and as long as we are dreaming about what might be, let's talk about Mickelson, who has been the clear No. 2 in popularity behind Woods over the past three decades.

Mickelson had decided to pick his spots on the Champions Tour and won four of the six events the played, tying Jack Nicklaus as the only two players to have such early success. However, Mickelson went to LIV Golf in 2022 to validate the fledgling tour and has concentrated on that commitment since. While he has said he has no interest in playing on the Champions Tour, perhaps he will change his mind in terms of playing a senior major when he retires from LIV. He has never won a LIV Golf event and has faded significantly as a competitor.

So what if both Woods and Mickelson showed up at The Concession? The publicity would be incredible, right here in the Lakewood Ranch area.

We can dream.

Of course, even without Woods or Mickelson, many of golf's legends will be on display. Major winners such as Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen, and Justin Leonard are huge draws. If John Daly and Freddie Couples enter, that's a huge bonus for the fans.

Let's not forget the ageless Bernhard Langer, who holds all the significant Champions Tour records. He has the most career wins with 47, and has won the most senior majors with 12. He has won at least one event on the Champions Tour for 18 consecutive years.

Newcomers who will be eligible to play the Champions Tour for the first time next season are Zach Johnson, Rory Sabbatini, and Ryan Palmer.

While most of the biggest names who play in the Senior PGA Championship are playing the Champions Tour, it should be noted that the Senior PGA Championship is not a Champions Tour event, but instead is a PGA of America event.

It's a lot of excitement coming to the area next April, and you certainly can attend the event as a spectator. However, if you want to get up close and personal with the players, you might consider being a volunteer. The PGA of America has yet to announce the details for those who want to volunteer, but the East County Observer will give that information as soon as it is released.