One of Tiger Woods’ latest appearances, playing at St. Andrews in July. Photo: REUTERS / Russell Cheyne.
Tiger Woods flew to Wilmington on Tuesday afternoon for a private conclave among major players to discuss the threat LIV Golf, the circuit of the tournament which is supported by the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, revealed two people familiar with the plans of the BMW Championship.
These people spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the meeting. This was said by a person who came as a guest to the meeting the intention is to agree to take on LIV Golf, as well as supporting the PGA tour.
The meeting caused an hour delay in a previously scheduled Player Council meeting.
Woods traveled from his home in Florida, along with Richie Fowlerwho did not qualify for the second FedEx Cup playoff event.
The meeting was held outside the Wilmington Country Club in a hotel, another person familiar with the details said. Jay Monahan, commissioner of the PGA Tour, was not invited.
“We will have a players meetingbut that’s the only thing we can tell them, “said Spaniard Jon Rahm.
Spaniard Jon Rahm with Tiger Woods, in an archive photo. Photo: AP Photo / Alastair Grant.
Monahan met the players informally last week after a federal judge rejected the request of three golfers from the Saudi Super League who wanted to compete in the PGA postseason.
One week later US OpenMonahan also met with players to share plans for the tour’s prize pool increase, changes to qualification criteria, and a new schedule that will resume the season starting January 2024.
Woods was categorically against the LIV Golf circuit. Rival league leader Greg Norman confirmed this in an interview with Fox News last month Woods received an offer of between $ 700 million and $ 800 million to join. Norman added that this was before he was hired to manage LIV Golf.
Norman and Woods were never close, something that dates back to Woods’ PGA debutinstantly becoming the most impactful golf star of recent decades.
Woods spoke out very critical during last month’s British Open and he was referring to the fact that Norman had not been invited to the 150th edition of the tournament. “Greg has done some things that I don’t think are in the best interest of our sport,” he said.
He also expressed his refusal of players who agree to sign huge bonuses to defect on LIV Golf by saying this they had betrayed the tour that made them famous.
Source: AP
Source: Clarin