PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Tiger Woods expressed uncertainty about the upcoming Genesis Invitational, an event he hosts in a part of Los Angeles that is currently grappling with devastating fires. While meetings are set to discuss the tournament’s future, he emphasized that the priority should be on addressing the larger humanitarian crisis at hand.
Woods mentioned, “We’re trying to just figure everything out and make sure that everyone is safe and we have meetings scheduled going forward,” during his remarks following his first appearance in the TGL indoor golf league. He indicated that discussions about the tournament itself are secondary to the immediate needs of those impacted by the fires. “It’s more about what we can do to help everyone who’s struggling, who’s lost homes and had their lives changed,” he added, revealing he knows individuals who have been severely affected by the fires.
As it stands, the PGA Tour has not modified its plan to host the Genesis from February 13-16 at Riviera Country Club. Notably, the club lies near areas severely impacted by the recent wildfires, although the course itself has remained unharmed. Fellow TGL player Max Homa, who shares Woods’ Southern California roots, echoed similar sentiments, advocating that the focus should shift away from sporting events during this time of crisis.
Homa reflected, “I know that these natural disasters happen far too often. However, this was the first one I can remember where every news clip, every time someone mentioned an area, I could picture it so well. It was very eerie.” Thankfully, he mentioned that his family and friends are safe, albeit with some homes damaged. Homa emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety over the tournament as many in the community face significant challenges.
Despite the ongoing situation, tickets for the Genesis event were still up for sale, highlighting the uncertainty regarding the future of the tournament as conditions continue to evolve. “There’s so many other things that are bigger than that,” Woods remarked, reaffirming the need for continuous meetings to assess the tournament’s fate.
In the realm of TGL, Woods’ team, Jupiter Links, faced a painful defeat, losing 12-1 to the Los Angeles Golf Club. Winning team member Collin Morikawa shared the sentiment that representing Los Angeles during this difficult time weighed heavily on his team, which included Justin Rose and Sahith Theegala.
The wildfires in Los Angeles have been catastrophic, claiming at least 25 lives, displacing thousands, and destroying over 12,000 structures. As Morikawa noted, “You think it’s over, but it’s not. Winds are picking up. Fires are still going.” He commended the collective resilience of the Los Angeles community as people come together to fight the fires and support each other.
Wearing an “LA Strong” T-shirt to raise funds for relief efforts, Morikawa expressed pride in providing a temporary distraction for residents affected by the tragedy, drawing a parallel to the Los Angeles Rams’ recent playoff victory, which was moved to Arizona due to the fires.
Teammate Sahith Theegala also reflected on the ongoing nature of fire disasters in Southern California, recalling the Woolsey fire that struck while he was at Pepperdine University. He stated, “It just feels like an ongoing thing the last six, seven years.” Highlighting the stark reality of witnessing fires firsthand, Theegala remarked on how media portrayals fall short of the true impact of such disasters.
In conclusion, Morikawa recognized the team’s responsibility to offer some hope amidst the chaos. “We’re probably the newest team in LA, but to get back-to-back wins with the Rams and then us… you laugh at that, I know,” he said, but reiterated their commitment to taking the situation seriously as they navigate these challenging times.
