Tiger Woods joins PGA Tour’s policy board as player director
In response to the uproar surrounding the proposed deal between the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the PGA Tour, the tour has announced significant changes to its policy board, the biggest of which is adding Tiger Woods as the sixth player-director.
The deal in question involved the PGA Tour, DP World (European) Tour, and the PIF, which currently funds the upstart LIV Golf Tour. The shock announcement of the framework agreement on June 6th led to a feeling of “betrayal” among players, with Jon Rahm, the Masters champion, openly expressing disappointment. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan faced calls for his resignation as players felt that key decisions were made behind closed doors without their involvement.
The recent changes by the PGA Tour, announced on August 1st, aim to address these concerns and foster a more player-driven organisation. The new board structure will comprise six player-directors, five independent directors, and the PGA of America director, with one of the independent director positions being a replacement for Randall Stephenson, who resigned due to concerns about the PIF deal.
The player-directors, along with Monahan, will work together to amend the policy board’s governing documents to ensure that no major decision is made in the future without prior involvement and approval from the player directors. A special adviser to the player directors, has also been appointed, to provide them with full awareness of and access to the negotiations surrounding the framework agreement.
As a result of these changes, player directors will have complete transparency and the authority to approve or decline any potential alterations to the tour as part of the framework agreement discussions.
Woods, who has been away from competition since withdrawing from the Masters, said it was an honour for him to represent the players of the PGA Tour. He emphasised that this is a crucial moment for the tour, and the players are committed to making decisions that benefit all stakeholders, including fans, sponsors, and fellow players. Woods also said he had confidence in commissioner Monahan’s ability to lead the tour under the current circumstances.
In response, Monahan acknowledged the importance of restoring trust and confidence in the PGA Tour. He emphasised the need to work in partnership with player directors, Player Advisory Council, and the broader membership to advocate for the best interests of PGA Tour members today and in the future.
The PGA Tour also revealed that 41 players, including prominent names like Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Shane Lowry and Mathew Fitzpatrick, expressed their support for the changes, indicating a widespread belief in the positive impact of these reforms.
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Photo – Sky Sports