Do not Keep King Tiger @ Home: Tiger Woods Honors PGA Tour Board as Sixth Player Director
King Tiger: Tiger Woods Honors PGA Tour Board as Player Director
Tour administrators have reached out to a familiar figure as the PGA Tour recovers from external and self-inflicted blows.
The addition of Tiger Woods as a player director to the Tour’s Policy Board is significant because it gives players a greater say in the Tour’s direction at a pivotal juncture.
Woods’ participation in the current tour upheaval has to be good news for players who have complained they have been left out in the cold in recent months, even if it isn’t as exciting as strolling up the 18th at Augusta National or crossing the Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews.
After spending over a year criticizing LIV Golf and its Saudi backers, the PGA Tour’s leadership suddenly announced an arrangement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund in early June, catching players, including Woods, by surprise.
Reaction to PGA circuit commissioner Jay Monahan was explosive, with players demanding everything from Monahan’s resignation to compensation for remaining on the circuit rather than leaving for LIV.
However, the main issue was that players didn’t feel like they had a say in the matter, which is problematic for a group that promotes itself as being “for the players, by the players.”
To “ensure that the Tour lives up to its mission of being a player-driven organization,” the new deal revealed on Tuesday morning aims to do just that.
The tour has committed to updating players on future decisions and the status of the agreement between the tour and the PIF.
By adding Woods to the board, the players will have six votes to the executives’ five, tipping the scales in their favor.
Patrick Cantlay, Charley Hoffman, Peter Malnati, Rory McIlroy, and Webb Simpson are the remaining players on the board alongside Woods.
There was a lot of PR jargon attributed to Woods in the release, but one of the most important quotes was about Monahan: “He has my confidence moving forward with these changes.”
Concerns about Monahan’s job security have been raised by players who are upset with the way this deal has been handled, but as long as he has Woods’ trust, he should be fine.
Players like Woods, Cantlay, Hoffman, Malnati, McIlroy, Simpson, Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, Rickie Fowler, Kevin Kisner, Billy Horschel, Sam Burns, Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele, Justin Rose, Max Homa, Collin Morikawa, Will Zalatoris, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick, Cameron Young, and Shane Lowry.
They were If the PGA Tour can maintain that amazing leaderboard moving in the same direction, it will be a little miracle and a huge stride forward for men’s professional golf.
