John Daly’s Tiger warning: 75% fit Woods would “kick everybody’s a**” in 2026

John Daly has thrown down a very public warning to the rest of the golfing world – and it’s aimed straight at anyone thinking Tiger Woods is done.

According to Daly, 15-time major champion Woods doesn’t need to be fully fit, pain-free or anywhere near his physical peak to start winning again. He just needs to be upright.

Speaking to Hard Rock Bet, two-time major champion Daly delivered a brutally simple verdict on what would happen if Woods shows up on the PGA Tour Champions in 2026.

“I ain’t doubting that man,” Daly said. “He’s too good, and the thing about him—he only needs to be about 75% healthy to pretty much kick everybody’s ass out here.”

Woods turned 50 on 30 December 2025, officially unlocking the door to the over-50s circuit – and the PGA Tour Champions wasted no time stirring the pot. 

A cryptic birthday post featuring a bold ‘Tiger 50’ graphic was captioned: “From one era to the next 🐅.”

Message received.

Tiger hasn’t teed it up competitively since missing the cut at The Open at Royal Troon in July 2024 and endured a nightmare 2025. 

He ruptured his left Achilles tendon in March, wiping out his season, before undergoing the seventh back surgery of his career in October.

Most players would be finished, but Daly isn’t buying it for a second.

The pair go way back – long before Woods became the most feared golfer on the planet.

“I’ve just always respected him,” Daly told Hard Rock Bet. 

“I was 21 when I first met him—he was 12. We were playing the Big Insurance Youth Classic at Texarkana Country Club, and he shot 72. I think I shot 69.

“For us, I think it was a Ben Hogan event back then. Then it became a Nike, and now it’s Korn Ferry. But I just knew this kid had something special.”

They might not be regular dinner companions, but the connection is still there.

“And we haven’t gone out to dinner all the time and all that, but we text a lot,” Daly added. 

“I always ask him how his health is and how he’s doing. Hopefully we’ll see him on the Champions Tour a few times this coming year.”

Daly is convinced Woods will tee it up in several Champions Tour events in 2026 – and if his body holds together, maybe even all four majors too.

And then there’s the great unanswered question of Tiger’s career. 

With 82 PGA Tour wins – tied with Sam Snead – many believe injuries robbed Woods of obliterating every record Jack Nicklaus ever set.

Daly certainly does.

“But if he could just get healthy, Tiger probably would have broken all of Jack’s records,” he said.

Woods will never reach full fitness again, that's fairly evident, especially after a near-fatal car crash in Los Angeles in 2021. 

But if Daly is right, the terrifying truth for the rest of the Champions Tour is this: a 75% Woods might still be more than enough.

I think we'd all love to see that in 2026.