While the PGA Tour is holding its flagship event this week, with the 51st edition of The Players Championship taking place on the famed Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, the PGA Tour Champions has gotten quite a bit of attention as well.
For one, with Tiger Woods turning 50 this December, many have been wondering if the senior circuit will be where the 15-time major champion makes his return after he recovers from the ruptured Achilles that required him to undergo surgery this past Tuesday.
The severity of Tiger's injury is still a mystery, so it's not yet known precisely how long that recovery period will be. Nevertheless, there have naturally been plenty of conversations about what Woods' future in competitive golf looks like following this latest setback.
But Tiger wasn't the only person linked to the PGA Tour Champions this week, as Rory McIlroy made some comments about golfing after 50 that aren't sitting well with several senior players, a list that includes four-time major champion Ernie Els.
During a press conference at The Players, McIlroy, a 27-time PGA Tour winner and a four-time major winner in his own right, was asked if he would "still have the burn" to play the senior tour when the time comes.
And the 35-year-old was quick to respond.
"Absolutely not," Rory said. "I will not play Champions Tour golf. Look, I've said a lot of absolutes in my time that I've walked back, but I do not envision playing Champions Tour golf. Something has went terribly wrong if I have to compete at golf at 50."
Ernie Els was one of several players to respond to Rory McIlroy's PGA Tour Champions comments
Els, who's now 55 and has claimed seven victories on the PGA Tour Champions, was quick to respond to McIlroy's comments.
"Interesting to read @McIlroyRory comments today," Els said via his X account. "At 35 years old I was also bullet proof saying things about not playing past 50. I’m 55 now and laughing at my comments from back then. @ChampionsTour golf is so fulfilling with a great bunch of players we all grew up together from junior golf. Our sponsors and partners are wonderful companies and people. Competition is a powerful tool!"
Four-time PGA Tour winner Bob Estes, who has yet to win on the senior circuit, also chimed in on X.
"I think Rory Mc thinks most of us play the @ChampionsTour because we 'have to,' Estes said. "We play the Champ Tour because we still love golf, the camaraderie and we love to compete."
But Estes wasn't done, as the 59-year-old took a little dig at McIlroy's participation in the TGL, saying, "Something has gone terribly wrong if I have to play indoor simulator golf."
As McIlroy himself said, he's "walked back" on several comments he's made over the years, and perhaps that will be the case when it comes to the PGA Tour Champions.
We'll just have to wait until May 4, 2039, to find out.