Tiger Woods could be nearing a return to competitive golf, and the 50-year-old wants to win a 10th USGA title - which means a U.S. Senior Open debut could be in the offing

USGA official John Bodenhamer believes Tiger Woods will be tempted by the opportunity to make history at the 2028 US Senior Open.

Woods hasn't competed on the PGA Tour since July 2024, with injuries keeping him off the course. He was planning a return to the Masters this year, but was arrested in connection with DUI charges after crashing his car in Florida.

Back in September, Woods reached a plea deal with prosecutors, meaning he avoided possible jail time but was ordered to pay fines and forfeit his driving license for five years. Woods has since returned to the course for charity events, but his professional career remains in the balance.

Woods is reportedly eyeing a debut in the PGA Tour Champions Tour, and now Bodenhamer believes the 50-year-old has a compelling reason to play in the U.S. Senior Open at Crooked Stick Golf Club in 2028. He called on the 15-time major champion to make history.

“Tiger understands his legacy. Bob Jones won nine USGA National Championships. Tiger Woods has won nine. And to win that 10th, if he could do it at the U.S. Senior Open, he understands what that means,” Bodenhamer told WRTV Sports..

“There’s only been two people in the history of our game that have won the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, and the U.S. Senior Open. Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Tiger has won the Am and the Open. He’s never won the Senior Open, but Tiger’s also won the Junior Am. He’d be the only one ever to do it.

“So I guess what I’m trying to say is it’s important to Tiger, and I would expect that he would be here at Crooked Stick.”

Woods has spoken freely about his ambition to reach at least 10 USGA championships. Back in 2020, he appeared in a USGA feature on his career where he said: “I was always focused on USGA championships because they are our national championship. I always wanted to be the United States champion. That title means something special to me.”

Woods currently shares the record with golf legend Bobby Jones, with nine USGA championships each. His victories include three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles from 1991 to 1993, three straight U.S. Amateur wins from 1994 to 1996, and three U.S. Open titles in 2000, 2002, and 2008.

Given he turned 50 in December 2025, Woods is now eligible for senior competition. He even registered for this year’s U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, but he never committed to playing.

At the time of his registration in March, a USGA spokesperson clarified the situation to Golf Channel and other outlets, saying: “Tiger has entered the championship, simply to ensure eligibility, but will not make a decision about playing until a later date.”

While Bodenhamer is pushing the 2028 U.S. Senior Open, the 2027 edition could be when Woods gives the tournament a crack. The 2027 U.S. Senior Open will take place at Oak Tree National in Edmond, Oklahoma, from July 1 to 4.

Since stepping away from regular competition, Woods has spent much of his time recovering from injuries. He ruptured his left Achilles tendon in March 2025 and underwent back surgery later in October that year. He returned to the course at TGL, then suffered his car accident that sparked more controversy for the all-time great.

But if Woods stays healthy and gets back into the swing of his game, the pursuit of a 10th USGA title can truly get underway.