Tiger Woods takes demigod role in PGA Tour negotiations with Saudis

Tiger Woods has taken a powerful role as the PGA Tour hopes to strike an agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the beneficiary of LIV Golf.

Woods will join a five-member subcommittee—the only player within this delegation—that will primarily stage negotiations, according to Doug Ferguson of The Associated Press.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, board chairman Joe Gorder, who also serves as Executive Chairman of Valero Energy Corporation, John Henry of Fenway Sports Group, and Joe Ogilvie, a former tour player who is now director liaison, will join Woods on this subcommittee.

This group will then report back to the entire PGA Tour Policy Board, which featured plenty of drama on Wednesday.

A few weeks ago, it appeared that Rory McIlroy would re-join the board after resigning from his position in November. McIlroy has felt impatient in recent months, as the PGA Tour and the PIF have made little progress in their negotiations.

“I’m impatient because I think we’ve got this window of opportunity to get it done,” McIlroy added.

“I liken it to when Northern Ireland went through the peace process in the ‘90s and the Good Friday Agreement; neither side was happy. Catholics weren’t happy, and Protestants weren’t happy, but it brought peace, and then you just sort of learn to live with whatever has been negotiated, right?”

The rise of LIV Golf has divided men’s professional golf, with numerous major champions playing on both LIV and the PGA Tour. Discussions surrounding ludicrous sums of money and greed, as well as geopolitical ramifications and criticisms related to the Saudi Government, have permeated into the sport over the past couple of years.

That could explain the sharp decline in television ratings in 2024, despite the amateur game being as healthy as ever.

Hence, McIlroy is eager to close a deal. However, as the only player involved, Woods—not McIlroy—will have the ultimate influence at the negotiating table.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.