by On the eve of a landmark meeting between PGA Tour players’ directors and the governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), Rory McIlroy said that Greg Norman and those in charge of Yasir al-Rumayyan’s LIV Golf have done a “disservice”. .
Tiger Woods is expected to attend Monday’s meeting, where PGA Tour players will be given an audience with Rumayyan for the first time. The result could have a significant impact on Woods’ approach to the Ryder Cup captaincy. The PGA of America is keen to confirm its captain for the meeting with Europe at Bethpage in September 2025 before next month’s Masters.
Related: Jordan Spieth says PGA Tour players are ready to meet the Saudis
It is widely understood that Woods’ role in the United States is if he wants it, but so far the 15-time major winner has been unremarkable. He was always thought to have his eyes on 2027 and Adare Manor but there could even be a case where he captains back-to-back Ryder Cups. Should Woods declare himself a non-runner for Bethpage, Stewart Cink is the favorite to lead Team USA.
Much of Woods’ spare time is taken up with matters on the PGA Tour’s policy board. The PGA Tour recently completed a $1.5bn deal with Strategic Sports Group but the PIF, which funded LIV Golf, is still on the outside looking in. For golf to be properly unified on a global basis, the PGA Tour and the PIF must come. to agree. Even then, the US Department of Justice is keeping a close eye on golf’s path. Rumayyan will take the opportunity to explain to board members how the PIF plans to work alongside the PGA Tour.
“I think it should have happened months ago, so I’m glad it’s happening,” McIlroy said. “Hopefully that will get conversations going and get us closer to a solution.
“I have spent time with Yasir. I think the people who represented him in LIV disagreed with him, so Norman and those people. I see both entities and I really think there is a huge disconnect between PIF and LIV. I think you got PIF over here and LIV is sort of over here doing its own thing. So the closer we can get to Yasir, PIF and hopefully see that investment come to fruition, I think that will be a very good thing.”
McIlroy added that Rumayyan “basically wants to do the right thing.” Woods’ position is fascinating in this context. It is known that he does not have much time for Norman, the commissioner of LIV, and for the tour of the rebels themselves. Woods also doubts the need to join the Saudi Arabian PGA Tour following SSG’s investment, meaning Rumayyan will have some convincing to do. If Woods is convinced that positive action can be achieved with the PIF, it is a private belief that he could spend more time on a Ryder Cup job.
Asked if Bethpage in 2025 was interested, Woods said: “Right now our tour is too much to think about the Ryder Cup. We have to get this [deal] done and we need to be focused on this right now. The players and everyone involved understand that this is an issue we need to focus on.”
-
Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for ‘The Guardian’.
-
If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the latest version.
-
In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
-
Turn on sports ads.
Patrick Cantlay, another player-director, was indifferent to what Monday might bring. The 50th edition of the Players Championship took place without two current major champions – Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm – as the PGA Tour is still in the position of not allowing LIV golfers to participate in its events. The general consensus is that such a situation is detrimental to golf. However, many on the PGA Tour also believe that those who accepted LIV deals should not be given an easy path back to their former domain. “I doubt we’ll get into anything substantive in the first meeting,” Cantlay said. “I don’t imagine anything substantial, but more of a blessing and a blessing.”
Lost in this melee was Scottie Scheffler’s successful and dramatic Players defense. The world No. If Clark found the bottom of the cup, it would force a replay. Instead, he had to share second place with Brian Harman and Xander Schauffele. Scheffler’s latest success came despite a neck injury; is the first back-to-back Players champion. “It’s pretty hard to win one of them so this is really special,” Scheffler said.
