Phil Mickelson Supports Tiger Woods Joining PGA Tour Policy Board: 'Awesome News'
Phil Mickelson has had a lot of critical things to say about the PGA Tour in the aftermath of his defection to LIV Golf more than a year ago, but the six-time major winner and World Golf Hall of Famer came out Tuesday in support of his old rival, Tiger Woods, who joined the PGA Tour Policy Board.
Responding via Twitter to the news that Woods was named the sixth player director on the 12-person Policy Board, Mickelson praised the development.
"This is great to see," he wrote. "Players having equal representation on the board, Tiger getting more involved, and accountability across the board. Awesome news."
Woods, who has not played since the Masters due to surgery on his foot, had not said anything publicly in the aftermath of the surprising June 6 announcement that the PGA Tour had entered into a "framework agreement" with the DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which funds LIV Golf.
The move was done in secret and many players felt blindsided, having no say in the matter.
The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Woods was among 40-some PGA Tour players who sent a letter to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan stipulating that Woods be added to the board and that players have final say in the approval of any agreement reached with the Public Investment Fund.
The Tour announced Tuesday in a release that there would be an agreement to "ensure that the PGA Tour lives up to its mission of being a player-driven organization, for the players, by the players."
“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," Woods said in a statement. “The players thank Commissioner Monahan for agreeing to address our concerns, and we look forward to being at the table with him to make the right decisions for the future of the game that we all love. He has my confidence moving forward with these changes."
Mickelson has long maintained that the Tour has not been transparent with its financial figures and that the stars should benefit more from the purse structure.
After a series of designated events was announced last August, where several tournaments this year feature $20 million purses—and next year most of them, if not all, will not have 36-hole cuts— Mickelson applauded the move and suggested it was something he’d advocated at times.
"I think a lot of my conversations with (former PGA Tour commissioner Tim) Finchem going back 15, 18 years even up to a year ago (with commissioner Jay Monahan) are pretty well documented," Mickelson told Sports Illustrated last September. “So I probably don’t need to go into every detail. But it’s interesting some of the similarities."
He added: “I would say I’m generally happy that the top players who are really driving the Tour and creating the interest are being listened to. And what they are doing for the Tour is being valued now. I’m happy to see that happen."