Tiger Woods will be the only PGA Tour player to sit down face-to-face with LIV Golf’s Saudi backers in peace talks, according to a report.
Tiger Woods is now the commissioner of the PGA Tour in everything but name.
At least that is the verdict from the majority of golf fans on X after the Associated Press revealed the 15-time major champion will be the only player involved in face-to-face talks with representatives of Saudi Arabia’s PIF.
According to Doug Ferguson of AP, Woods is now part of a ‘transaction subcommittee’ that will meet with the backers of LIV Golf over the next few weeks.
That subcommittee includes PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan, board chairman Joe Gorder, John W. Henry from Fenway Sports Group and former Tour player Joe Ogilvie acting as a liaison.
That group will report back to the board.
Tiger Woods, now 48 years old, was named as a player director last August.
He had spent the three months prior to that staying conspicuously silent about the 6 June framework agreement that was announced by Monahan between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF.
When Tiger Woods did speak on that seismic announcement, he appeared extremely frustrated with Monahan.
“Going back to that, I would say that my reaction was surprised as I’m sure a lot of the players were taken back by it, by what happened so quickly without any input or any information about it, it was just thrown out there,” he previously said.
“We were very frustrated with what happened. We were all taken back by it. It happened so quickly without any of our involvement. No one knew. That can’t happen again.”
Tiger Woods has since met with LIV’s mastermind and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan in the Bahamas.
The duo reportedly played golf in Albany and that excursion was later described a positive meet-and-greet.
Reacting to AP’s latest report, a number of golf fans appeared to be unanimous that Woods is now the boss.
“As long as Tiger is playing on the PGA Tour, he is the boss,” one wrote.
“His legacy is the PGA Tour, he be the best to preserve it.”
Another added: “Tiger will look to stick it to Phil Mickelson one more time in his negotiation with the Saudis. Surely he would demand LIV be trivialised or dismantled altogether.
“From the fairway to the boardroom, Tiger is going to look to show Lefty who is boss.”
This person wrote: “Please welcome commissioner Eldrick.”
The news that Woods will be the sole player involved in face-to-face talks with the Saudis capped another chaotic day in the world of men’s professional golf.
It was reported that his relationship with Rory McIlroy, whilst cordial, has ‘soured’ over the last six months owing to the Northern Irishman’s desire to strike a deal with PIF and draw a line under the schism.
