Woods is sole player on panel to negotiate with LIV backers PIF

File photo of 15-time major winner Tiger Woods who has been included in an influential group set up by the PGA Tour to further talks with LIV Golf’s Saudi Arabian backers PIF.

By Rahul Banerji

PGA Tour policy board player-director Tiger Woods will be the lone active golfer in a five-strong panel set up to negotiate with LIV Golf’s financial backer, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, as the two entities seek to find mutual ground.

After much anger and indignation when LIV Golf first launched in 2022, there seemed to be a dramatic change on part of the ‘establishment’ when the two sides announced a framework agreement last June, and set a December unity deadline.

That fell through and the PGA Tour then roped in a group of outside investors called the Strategic Sports Group to give new direction to its plans and investments. To coordinate progress, another body, PGA Tour Enterprises was set up as a commercial entity with SSG as a minority investor.

Since then, talks with PIF have continued on and off including a meeting this March in the Bahamas, but no real progress has been made.

And now the new ‘transactions’ sub-committee will be involved in talks looking to break fresh ground with PIF. Also on the panel are PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, board chairman Joe Gorder, John W. Henry of SSG and former player Joe Ogilvie.

Influential spot

The move, reported on Wednesday by the Associated Press thus places Tiger Woods at the heart of the talks and in a position to steer their direction to see how PIF will become a minority investor in PGA Tour Enterprises.

The 15-time major winner joined the PGA Tour board in August as the sixth player-director along with Jordan Spieth, Webb Simpson, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott and Peter Malnati and the only one whose board term has no limits.

Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy who had stepped down in favour of Speith in November said in late April he was willing to return if it helped expedite matters.

The world no. 2 was one of the most vocal LIV critics initially but in the last year, has softened his tone greatly.

Simpson offered to step aside but McIlroy found little support and according to reports, those opposed to his return were business partner and close friend Woods, Speith and Cantlay. Player directors have to unanimously approve changes to the board’s composition.

Little backing

“I think there was a subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason,” McIlroy was quoted as saying ahead of the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“With the way it happened it opened up some old wounds and scar tissue from things that have happened before.

“I put my hand up to help and it was, I wouldn’t say it was rejected, it was a complicated process to get through to put me back on there,” McIlroy said about his rejoining the board.

“So that’s all fine, no hard feelings and we’ll all move on,”  he added.

“Today’s news is in no way a commentary on Rory’s important perspective and influence,” Ap quoted Monahan as saying in a statement. “It’s a matter of adherence to our governance process by which a tour player becomes a board member.

“Webb remaining in his position as a member of the policy board and PGA Tour Enterprises board through the end of his term provides the continuity needed at this vital time. We are making progress in our negotiations with the PIF.”

According to the AP report, McIlroy is expected to unofficially stay involved in the talks given his two years as a board member, and his influence in the game.

Tiger confirms for Valhalla

Meanwhile, the PGA of America has announced the field for next week’s PGA Championship, with two spots remaining for winners of the Wells Fargo Championship and Myrtle Beach Classic and 2000 winner Tiger Woods in the mix.

The 15-time major champion won the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla, the venue for this year’s edition as well.

Also read: Rory McIlroy poised for a return to PGA Tour players’ body