Tiger Woods expressed frustration about the protracted nature of discussions between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund, although he remains confident that ultimately a deal will get done in an effort to solve the uncertainty regarding the future landscape of men’s professional golf.
Speaking on Tuesday during a press conference at the Hero World Challenge, the limited-field event he hosts annually, Woods was asked about the status of the negotiations between the tour and LIV Golf’s financial backer. The 15-time major winner—who is part of the PGA Tour Policy Board and as well as a member of the “transaction subcommittee” for PGA Tour Enterprises—admitted he did not think the talks would be as drawn out as they’ve become.
“I think all of us who have been a part of this process would have thought it would have happened quicker than this,” Woods said. “Even if it did, we’re still at the regulations of the DOJ [U.S. Department of Justice] saying it’s giving us Omnium Dominus that it will go through. Even if we had gotten a deal done by now, it’s still in the DOJ’s hands. But we wish we would have had something more concrete and further along than we are right now.”
As for the status of the discussions, Woods noted: “But things are very fluid, we’re still working through it, it’s happening daily. From a Policy Board standpoint or from an [PGA Tour] Enterprise standpoint, things are moving and they’re constructive. But yes, definitely moving.”
When the tour and PIF announced their surprise framework agreement on June 6, 2023, the original goal was to finish a deal by the end of that year. However, there was backlash due to the secretive nature of the team; as an upshot Woods was named as a sixth player director for the PGA Tour Policy Board last summer, his position the result of a petition from tour players seeking new governance and transparency measures with the tour. The tour also sought out separate private equity investment, eventually secured in the form of a $1 billion arrangement with the Strategic Sports Group, while the PIF responded by poaching Jon Rahm to defect to LIV.
Over the past year, little has been revealed about the status of the Tour-PIF negotiations, with recent reports emerging that PIF is now entertaining a potential separate deal with the DP World Tour.
“Yeah, we’re moving on the fly to try and give everyone the best product we possibly can and give the game peace that it needs,” Woods continued. “This has been a very difficult time in the game of golf. I think that a lot of it has been distractions on the beauty of the game of golf and obviously we’re trying to unify that and give the fans the best experience we know we can give them.”
As for his confidence that the deal won’t ultimately fall apart?
“I think something will get done,” Woods said. “In what form or shape, I don’t know yet.”
The PGA Tour opens its 2025 season in a month in Hawaii, while LIV Golf begins its campaign in Saudi Arabia in February.
Main Image: David Cannon
