Tiger Woods will not be taking part in in the 2022 Hero World Challenge, however that does not imply he’s nonetheless not on the focus. In his first press convention in greater than 4 months on Tuesday, Woods placed on his commissioner’s hat. While not formally in the place, the 15-time main champion was peppered with inquiries surrounding potential peace talks between the PGA Tour and rival league LIV Golf, and what precisely wants to occur for these discussions to happen.
“I see that there’s an opportunity out there if both organizations put a stay on their litigation, but that’s the problem, they’ve got to put a stay on it. And whether or not they do that or not, there’s no willingness to negotiate if you have a litigation against you,” stated Woods. “So if they both have a stay and then have a break and then they can meet and figure something out, then maybe there is something to be had.
“But I feel Greg [Norman] has to go, to start with, after which clearly litigation in opposition to us after which our countersuit in opposition to them, these would then have to be at a keep as properly. So then we are able to speak, we are able to all speak freely.”
The terms for compromise are clear in the eyes of Woods. Drop the lawsuits and drop Norman, and only then can the two golf leagues be able to join each other at the table for a conversation. The 46-year-old’s words echoed those of his good friend and business partner Rory McIlroy, who shared similar thoughts ahead of the 2022 DP World Tour Championship.
“It has to begin with management on their facet,” said Woods. “Understanding that what is going on proper now is just not in one of the best … it isn’t in one of the best match or future for the entire recreation of golf. Now, what’s the easiest way for our recreation to develop? It’s not this manner. But, granted, you want to have the 2 our bodies come collectively. If one facet has a lot animosity, somebody making an attempt to destroy our tour, then how do you’re employed with that?”
LIV Golf and the PGA Tour have two courtroom battles ongoing with an antitrust lawsuit from LIV Golf claiming the PGA Tour illegally suspended gamers for competing in LIV Golf occasions, whereas a countersuit from the PGA Tour claims LIV interfered with participant contracts.
Once these authorized proceedings are resolved and Norman is doubtlessly eliminated, what would compromise between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf even seem like? With the who taken care of, even Woods admits he has hassle seeing the what.
“We don’t know. No one knows,” Tiger stated of what center floor between the 2 excursions would seem like. “Right now, it is — there’s lots of animosity, particularly from their management. And they need to be a validated tour with world rating factors they usually’re shopping for up excursions around the globe, and I do not know — I do not know what their finish recreation is.
“It might be just being an official member of the golf ecosystem and being recognized with world ranking points. I think that’s what their intended goal is. You know, they’ve spent probably close to $2 billion this year. Who’s to say they can’t spend 4 or $5 billion next year? You know, we just don’t know. It’s an endless pit of money. But that doesn’t necessarily create legacies either. You want to compare yourself to [Ben] Hogan, you want to compare yourself to [Sam] Snead, you want to compare yourself to [Jack] Nicklaus, you can’t do that over there, but you can on this Tour.”