Tiger WoodsSources confirmed to ESPN Monday that he will meet with several top golfers around the world Tuesday to rally support for the PGA Tour in its ongoing fight with the LIV Golf series.
Woods, a 15 time major champion, will meet the group of players at the BMW Championship in Wilmington (Delaware), host of the second FedEx Cup playoff tournament that starts Thursday.
ESPN spoke to a player who was invited to the meeting. He said that the meeting would include many top 20 players around the world, as well as a few influential PGA Tour members, who haven’t switched to LIV golf. It will take place just after a previously scheduled PGA Tour Player Advisory Council at Wilmington Country Club.
ESPN reported Monday that the meeting was meant to bring together the top 20 golfers in the world to discuss how the PGA Tour can be the best product in professional golf.
Sources say Jay Monahan, the commissioner of the PGA Tour, is scheduled to meet with members at a second meeting on Wednesday.
Tuesdays meeting in Woods will be held one week after a federal court in San Jose, California. Temporary restraining orders are not grantedUp to three players Talor Gooch, Matt Jones Hudson Swafford— who had defected to LIV Golf from the PGA Tour and wanted to compete at the FedEx Cup playoffs.
Woods made his harshest criticisms of players who switched to the Saudi Arabian-backed, LIV Golf circuit at the Open Championship at St. Andrews last month. Several past major champions, including Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka Bubba Watson, were attracted to the new circuit being run by Greg NormanWith guaranteed contracts valued between $100 million-200 million The Telegraph of London reported last Thursday that the world No. 2 Cameron SmithLIV Golf is also set to be joined by Australia.
Woods stated in July that he disagreed with the statement. I believe theyve turned their backs on whats allowed them to get to this point.
Woods also wondered about how younger players without exemptions to the majors could impact their chances to play in the most important events of golf.
LIV Golf is not yet recognised by the Official World Golf Ranking. Its players did not receive world ranking point from its first three events. LIV Golf applied for OWGR recognition in October and is currently awaiting a ruling. OWGR points are used for determining exemptions and fields for four majors, The Masters, The PGA Championship and The Open.
Woods said, Who knows what will happen in the near future regarding world-ranking points and the criteria to enter major championships. The governing body will have to figure it out.
Some of these athletes may never have the opportunity to play in major championships. This is possible. That is something we dont know for certain yet. All major championship bodies will make that determination. However, it is possible that some players may never, ever get the chance to play at a major championship. Its something I don’t get.
Norman confirmed that Woods rejected an offer of $700million to join LIV Golf. Norman stated that the offer was made before Woods became the startup leagues commissioner and CEO.
When asked Monday by a tour player why Woods was so invested in PGA Tour, he replied: Hes a PGA Tour advocate like all the greats. He understands the importance of the tour to his career and how it helped him.