Ahead of the Hero World Challenge, Tiger Woods has spoken out about the impending framework agreement between the PGA Tour and the financiers of LIV Golf.
Prior to his most recent comeback, Tiger Woods sent a warning to Jay Monahan, the commissioner of the PGA Tour.
Shortly before the upcoming Hero World Challenge on November 28, Woods made his first public remarks regarding the much-discussed “framework agreement” between LIV Golf’s financiers and the North American circuit.
On June 6, 2023, the golf world was taken aback when PGA Tour CEO Mike Monahan and LIV founder Yasir Al-Rumayyan appeared on national television and declared that, following a series of covert meetings held around the world, the two organizations would collaborate to establish a new, for-profit business.
On Wednesday, Woods expressed his surprise and frustration to reporters, saying that no players had been consulted.
The 15-time major winner expressed confidence in Monahan’s future performance but issued a warning: “That can’t happen again.”
Other revelations from his news conference included:
- His long-time friend, practice partner and vice • president of TGR Ventures, Rob McNamara, will caddie for him in Albany
- He doesn’t know who will caddie for him in 2024, but hinted his teenage son Charlie could be on the bag in some events
- He is currently ruling out being the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup captain as ‘there’s too much at stake with our Tour’
- Woods is confident a ‘deal’ will be confirmed by the 31 December
All sides are engaged in ongoing negotiations with ‘no animosity’ - He understood why Rory McIlroy stood down from the policy board
- His latest ankle surgery was a resounding success
He believes he could play ‘one tournament per month’ in 2024
“My reaction was surprised”
Asked for his thoughts on the 6 June announcement, Woods said: “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.
“The nature of the procedure caught me off guard. We were extremely displeased with what transpired, so we decided to take action moving forward to make sure that players would not be excluded from the process as we had been.
“Assuming that role and being added to the board was a part of that process.”
Although the Tour has “multiple options” going forward, Woods stated that they “would like” to reach an agreement by December 31.
“That was part of why I came on to the board is I did have faith in Jay and in what he could do going forward and what can’t happen again,” Woods replied when asked if he still has faith in Monahan.
“I am sure a deal will get done somehow,” he continued. Regardless of when it happens—December 31st or later—all parties are aware that we are collaborating.
Lawsuits are not pending. Everyone knows what that entails, and we’re all moving ahead together. Right now, everyone is working together amicably. We’re making an effort to reach an agreement that benefits the tour and all parties concerned.”
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