SAN DIEGO — Tiger Woods believes that the current rift in professional golf could be resolved swiftly, especially with impending negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi investors behind LIV Golf, which appear to be close to finalization.
Woods is unique on the PGA Tour board as he holds no term limits and has played a significant role in discussions involving PGA Tour Enterprises and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). Originally, he was set to meet with Commissioner Jay Monahan and player Adam Scott on February 4 alongside President Donald Trump but had to return to Florida following the sudden passing of his mother.
“I think that things are going to heal quickly,” Woods expressed during an interview with CBS at the Genesis Invitational, where he served as the tournament host. “We’re on a path to move in the right direction for this game. It has been headed the wrong way for several years, and the fans want to see all the top players compete together. We will make that happen.”
He characterized the ongoing negotiations as being in an encouraging position. Another meeting was mentioned, although Woods did not disclose the participants. The transaction subcommittee involved in the discussions with PIF is slated to convene the following week.
As the main financial backer of LIV Golf, PIF has successfully attracted several prominent golfers away from the PGA Tour. The current discussions encompass not only a potential minority investment but also a strategy for unifying the two competing tours. Monahan emphasized that the priority is reunification, stating, “I think the only thing that really matters to fans and for the game is ultimately reunification. I believe everything else will follow from that.”
However, the specifics regarding how and when this unification may occur remain uncertain. LIV Golf conducted its second tournament this week in Australia, drawing significant crowds. The new CEO of LIV, Scott O’Neil, highlighted during the broadcast that “if you want to see the best players in the world outside of the majors, there’s only one place to find that, and that’s at LIV.”
Woods returned to Torrey Pines, a venue where he has celebrated eight wins, including the 2008 U.S. Open, for the first time in five years. Although he initially entered the tournament, he withdrew on Monday to cope with his mother Kultida’s passing. On Sunday, he attended in order to meet with his TGR LIV team, which had facilitated the tournament’s relocation from Riviera due to wildfires, and to award the trophy to Ludvig Aberg.
During his CBS interview, Woods honored his mother, recalling her unwavering support, whether it was driving him to junior events, keeping his scores, or ensuring he completed his homework before hitting the golf course. “She meant everything to me,” Woods stated. “Losing her has been an incredibly difficult journey.”
He is set to resume competitive play with his Jupiter team in the indoor TGL event in South Florida on Tuesday.
