Tiger Woods has provided a hopeful outlook for more frequent encounters between the world’s top golfers, suggesting they might compete more than just four times a year. Speaking before the Open Championship at Royal Troon, the 15-time major champion expressed satisfaction with the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which finances LIV Golf.
“I can tell you we’re making progress,” Woods remarked. “I can’t tell you more than that just because we’re not going to negotiate on the outside. We’ve got to keep everything at a high level and private, but things are moving and things are changing. It’s evolving each and every day. There’s e-mails and chains and texts and ideas that we bounce back and forth from both sides.”
Both parties are being cautious following the chaotic unveiling of a “framework agreement” at the RBC Canadian Open last summer. The unexpected announcement on June 6 left players blindsided and sparked a backlash that PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is still working to overcome.
“There’s a good interchange of ideas and thoughts of how the game could look like going forward,” Woods said. “It’s just a matter of putting that all together legally. Obviously, we have the (U.S. Department of Justice) with oversight looking into that as well and making sure that we don’t do anything improperly there.”
In addition to legal considerations, financial issues are central to the discussions. The PGA Tour’s shift from a non-profit to a for-profit model, which includes player equity and welcomes investors, has heightened the significance of the financial aspects of golf.
“Making sure that all the players benefit from this, as well as everyone who’s involved. They want to make money as well. They want to make that return,” Woods added.