Insider predicts Tiger Woods could make a surprise return to the PGA Tour

Notah Begay III wears multiple “insider” hats. A former PGA Tour winner and current Golf Channel analyst, he is a Tour insider. But he’s also something of a Tiger Woods insider.

As a long-time friend and confidante of the fifteen-time major champion, Begay’s predictions about Tiger carry some weight. His final prediction? That Woods will indeed return to the PGA Tour soon. But not only that. Begay also suggested Tiger could play two Tour events that he rarely, if ever, plays.

Notah Begay III talks about Tiger Woods’ return

Begay’s long friendship with Woods began in junior golf and continued on the Stanford University golf team and then on the PGA Tour.

In the past, Begay has provided insight into Tiger’s thinking that could have been provided by none other than the Big Cat himself.

And right now, everyone wants to know what Tiger is thinking. After competing in the inaugural TGL season early this year, it looked like Woods was ready for the 2025 season. But then Achilles surgery kept him out for the entire year.

In October, Woods announced that he had undergone disc replacement surgery on his back, further throwing his potential return date into question.

This week Begay appeared on the honest facts Homie! podcast with host Trey Wingoand he quickly answered one of the biggest questions on the minds of golf fans: When will Tiger Woods ever play on the PGA Tour again?

Begay responded by predicting not only that he will return, but that he could do it at two unlikely tournaments: the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial and the RBC Heritage at Harbor Town on Hilton Head Island.

Why those events, where Tiger once played combined? Begay explained that the only thing keeping Tiger from returning to professional golf is his ability to walk 72 holes.

“I think there are a few locations that are suitable for his current physical condition,” Begay said in the podcast. “I think the biggest problem in the conversations I’ve had with him is the running. That’s it. He’s hitting it great, he’s in great physical condition. His ball speeds are fast enough, they’re 175-180, which is good enough for the PGA Tour. Can he just run 72 holes plus a pro-am? I don’t know, and that’s kind of the big question. So I think this is a major championship venue with flatter terrain. Hilton Head with flatter terrain, colonial with flatter terrain could be targets.”

He continued, “And those are venues that he’s never normally played. He played Colonial once and never went back. And I don’t think he’s ever been to Hilton Head. So I think those are two things you’ll ever encounter.”

Begay also gave a reason why Woods might try to make another comeback. The inspiration comes from a desire to win his 83rd PGA Tour event, breaking his current tie with Sam Snead for most Tour victories in history.

“In his heart, 83 is a big number. It’s an important number,” Begay said.

And if it wasn’t the PGA Tour, Begay admitted he’d love to have him play some PGA Tour Champions events, a wish many older pros have echoed.

“But we would also like to see him on the Champions Tour, where he can take a cart!”

To be clear, the RBC Heritage 2026 will take place from April 16 to 19a week after the 2026 Masters, another potential venue for Woods’ return to pro golf. The 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge begins at Colonial on May 28.

How Tiger Woods and Notah Begay III became ‘pseudo-brothers’

In addition to providing insight into current and future Tiger Woods, Begay also revealed what it was like to meet a young Tiger 40 years ago, when he was already dominating tournaments.

“Tiger and I have been friends since he was 9 years old, so over 40 years,” Begay explains in his Plain Facts Homie! appearance.

They first met at a junior golf tournament in which Begay’s older brother was participating. But it was Tiger who caught Begay’s attention.

“I had heard about a boy who had won 15 and 20 shot tournaments. And I said I had to go watch this boy. And I came across a young Tiger Woods, 9 years old, who was competing with older kids and beating older kids,” Begay revealed. “Just the spirit and the energy, and the way he went about his business, was really captivating, even at that age.”

Begay then talked about how their first meeting turned into a lifelong friendship.

“So after the round I went up to him and introduced myself to him and we became friends. Along the way we met at junior tournaments. And we stuck together.” [Tiger’s father Earl Woods] always traveled with him, and my parents couldn’t travel because it was expensive. So Earl would always look out for me. He always made sure I was fed. He always made sure I could come along to the course,” Begay said. “So we almost became like pseudo-brothers and we took that friendship with us to college.”

He also claimed that Woods was the best golfer ever and argued that witnessing Tiger’s achievements throughout his career gives him the authority to make that decision.

“So I’ve been there every step of the way – the good, the bad, the ugly – with my friend. And I have the utmost respect for everything he’s done. And no one can really understand how many mountains he had to climb to set those records, and what he had to sacrifice to set those records. But no one has ever worked harder at the game than Tiger Woods, and possibly no one has ever been more talented, and that’s why I consider him the best to ever play.”

You can watch Begay’s full performance in the Straight Facts Homie! podcast here.

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