Tiger Woods named sixth player director of PGA Tour, who are the others?
Tiger Woods has been named a player director by the PGA Tour in the aftermath of some serious security from the players directed at the board members of the
Players, fans and lawyers are still getting a grasp on what the PGA Tour merger with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and DP World Tour means. Some are angry. Some are ecstatic. Others are still looking for answers.
PGA calls on Tiger
It would appear that the biggest losers, or at least those who feel the most slighted, are the pros who remained loyal to the PGA despite big bucks flying around on the other side of the world. Guys like Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and maybe most importantly, Tiger Woods.
Woods’ impact on the course has diminished, but his loyalty to PGA has never faded. The Saudi Arabian backed tour were ready to break the bank for Woods, throwing almost a billion dollars ($700-800 million) at the 15 time major championship winner. Woods rejected the offer and pledged his allegiance to the tour that helped make him who he is today.
When everything seemed shaky, the PGA always had a couple of heavy hitters on their side to keep the legitimacy of the tour intact. And at the request of some of the top golfers in the game today, the PGA has made Tiger Woods a player director of the tour.
Player directors impact with PGA
The decision comes after more than 40 PGA players, including Woods, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy sent a joint letter to the PGA claiming those who stayed true to the tour should have a say in the decision making that happens in the future.
“Player leaders joined together to uphold the Tour’s core principles and ask that certain steps be taken immediately, and (commissioner Jay) Monahan has agreed to support the players and their requests,” the PGA Tour said in a statement.
One of the biggest and most important requests of the PGA Tour players was for the board to make Tiger a player director, to which the board obliged.
“Accordingly, the player directors will have full transparency and the authority to approve -- or to decline to approve -- any potential changes to the Tour as part of the framework agreement discussions,” the PGA Tour’s statement said.
Woods “honored” to represent players
This comes after news of the merger surprised just about everyone of the players on the PGA Tour, including the five other player directors Patrick Cantly, Charly Hoffman, Peter Malnati, Rory McIlroy and Webb Simpson.
“I am honored to represent the players of the PGA Tour,” Woods said in a statement. “This is a critical point for the Tour, and the players will do their best to make certain that any changes that are made in Tour operations are in the best interest of all Tour stakeholders, including fans, sponsors and players.”
Tiger hasn’t played since the Masters when he had to drop out of the tournament on Saturday after suffering planter fasciitis issue. He has played in just two tournaments this season, and it looks like his role from here on out could make a bigger impact in the meeting rooms than on the course.