:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(742x209:744x211)/Tiger-Woods-LeBron-James-123025-3eda9fd492b8469c980a24d465887a10.jpg?ssl=1 "Tiger Woods and LeBron James Battle ‘Father Time’ to Mark Milestone Birthdays")
NEED TO KNOW
- Sports stars LeBron James, 41, and Tiger Woods, 50, are celebrating birthdays on Tuesday, Dec. 30
- James will spend his birthday playing for the Los Angeles Lakers as they host the Detroit Pistons
- Woods is focusing on his potential return to the course after telling ESPN on Dec. 2 that he’s “a ways away” from full swings and committing to a tournament
Two sports legends are celebrating another trip around the sun!
On Tuesday, Dec. 30, golf icon Tiger Woods turned 50 years old, while NBA superstar LeBron James marked his 41st birthday.
For James, he’ll spend his birthday suiting up — alongside his son Bronny James, 21 — for the Los Angeles Lakers as they host the Detroit Pistons.
Woods, meanwhile, is focused on a potential return to the course as he continues rehabbing an injury, after he didn’t compete in the PGA tour last season. Now 50, he’s eligible to compete on the PGA Tour Champions circuit.
Woods and James share more than a birthday, however, as both are among the handful of athletes to reach billionaire status. According to ESPN, the golfer and basketball player became billionaires within weeks of one another.
Amid his 23rd season in the league, James’ aim is to keep competing at a high level.
“Yeah, I think it was 2020 or 21 where I did the Father Time commercial thing,” the Lakers star said after the team beat the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, Dec. 28. “I’m in a battle with him and I would like to say I’m kicking his ass on the back nine.”
However, the father of three was sidelined for the first weeks of the season due to sciatica on his right side.
Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty
“It was just fun to be out there with the guys,” James said after his first game back on Nov. 18. “Going through that emotionally, spiritually, everything, tested me.”
The NBA star added that he’s playing with “a lot of joy” this season.
As for Woods, earlier this month, he revealed that he’s “a ways away from” practicing full swings and committing to a tournament. “Once I get a feel for practicing, exploding, playing, the recovery process, then I can assess where I’m going to play and how much I’ll play,” Woods said, according to ESPN.
David Cannon/Getty
In March, the golf icon ruptured his left Achilles while he was training for the Masters.
In October, he underwent lumbar disc replacement surgery to address symptoms in his lower back. The surgery, which was deemed successful, was performed by Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.
As Woods continues his rehabbing, the golfer has also been making time to support his son Charlie Woods. On Nov. 15, he and his ex-wife Elin Nordegren supported Charlie, 16, in the Florida 1A state championship at Mission Resort + Club in Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla.
