Tiger Woods discusses potential return of LIV players in Genesis Invitational press conference.
Tiger Woods (Image via Imago)
After playing a Pro-Am round with Bills quarterback Josh Allen on Wednesday, Tiger Woods, the host of this week’s Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, CA, took the stage and captivated the audience for over 15 minutes. During his time on the chair, he addressed various topics, including the current discussions with the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the potential for collaboration in the world of golf.
Woods mentioned that they are currently exploring different possibilities for the players’ return. They are considering the details, the impact on the players who have chosen to stay, and how they can improve their product going forward. However, there are no definite answers to these questions at the moment.
Furthermore, he asked the fans to trust him as they have ongoing discussions about this topic through emails and weekly meetings. They are continuously assessing how this will affect their future tours.
The return of golfers from the LIV tour has become a significant subject in the sports world. Some golfers have expressed their belief that there should be consequences for players who joined LIV, such as Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, and others.
Tiger Woods still doesn’t know what the “pathway back” to the PGAT for LIV players could be. He has stated multiple times that there will be no fines or “pathway.” If Rahm, DJ, Cam, Brooks & Bryson, and others want to play, the PGAT will eventually welcome them with open arms.
On the other hand, there has been a disagreement between Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, with McIlroy strongly disagreeing with Spieth. Spieth has made it clear that he doesn’t believe a partnership with the PIF is necessary.
In June 2023, the PGA Tour surprised everyone by announcing a partnership with the Saudi Public Investment Funds, the same organization that supports LIV Golf. Golf has come a long way since its rift in 2022 and the merger deal talks. The future of the sport will continue to evolve depending on the outcome of the deal.
On the PGA Tour’s side, they have teamed up with the Strategic Sports Group, which plans to invest over a billion dollars into PGA Tour Enterprises, a newly established for-profit organization. This has raised questions about whether the PGA Tour still requires funding from Saudi PIF. Currently, it appears that there are obstacles in reaching an agreement.
It’s natural to have many unanswered questions, and Woods tried to provide some insight without making any definitive statements. However, with the ongoing divisions in golf, both the media and fans are left wondering about the future of the sport.
According to the Source firstsportz.com