Rory McIlroy Says Tiger Woods Is Making an Impact on PGA Tour Board: 'He's Really Engaged'
ATLANTA — His time on the PGA Tour Policy Board has been short, but Tiger Woods is already making an impact.
That is according to Rory McIlroy, another board member who said Woods hasn’t wasted any time since being appointed to the board on Aug. 1.
"I think Tiger being on the board ... it’s meaningful that he’s on it," McIlroy said Wednesday at East Lake Golf Club, site of the season-ending Tour Championship that begins Thursday.
"He’s certainly been spending more time on it that I have. He’s been talking to some people. He’s been talking to a lot of people. He’s really engaged in just trying to get the best outcome for the players on the PGA Tour. So I think his difference has been felt already.
“I think it will only continue. His presence on there will only continue to grow as we head towards that December 31st deadline."
McIlroy was referring to the deadline for the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia to finalize the details of the "framework agreement" between the parties that was announced on June 6.
Following that announcement, the PGA Tour and specifically commissioner Jay Monahan came under criticism for the secret nature of negotiations and the lack of information given to players.
When Woods's appointment to the board was announced, it was noted that it was done so after a letter signed by some 40 players requesting Woods be added to the board immediately.
As part of Woods joining the board, its governing documents are being amended to assure that player directors must have involvement in and approve major decisions; the special advisor to the players, Colin Neville, be fully made aware of negotiations around the framework agreement; and that player directors have full transparency and authority to approve or decline any changes to the Tour as part of the framework agreement.
McIlroy said Wednesday that unanimous approval among the player directors is not required, simply a majority vote.
Woods joins McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, Charley Hoffman, Webb Simpson, Peter Malnati and Webb Simpson among the player directors. There are also six independent directors. Adam Scott is set to join the board on Jan. 1, replacing Hoffman.
Although Woods has not played since withdrawing from the Masters and is recovering from ankle surgery he had soon after, he remains a prominent figure in the game, especially behind the scenes.
Although he won’t attend the Ryder Cup next month, he has been involved in talking with captain Zach Johnson about players and pairings. And it was McIlroy and Woods who just more than a year ago led a player meeting that led to the creation of designated events, now called signature events, that will see eight such tournaments in 2024, seven with $20 million purses.
Woods's stature means his views will carry considerable weight. Monahan said Tuesday that he is confident a deal with the PIF will get done by the end of the year and result in a strong outcome for the PGA Tour. How things will look—especially with the new for-profit company being called PGA Tour Enterprises and LIV Golf—is unclear.
As is relates to what Woods and McIlroy initially proposed a year ago as it relates to the signature events, McIlroy said he’s pleased and interested to see how it works out next year.
"I think the one thing that we talked about this time last year was guaranteeing the product, guaranteeing that the best fields are going to show up," McIlroy said. “Obviously that mandatory part has been taken out. So it will be interesting to see what happens and see how many guys show up and how that all goes.
"I think there's incentives now for the signature events for everyone to show up because the FedEx Cup points are higher and you really get a—you have an advantage being in those fields by finishing in the top 50 the previous year. So I'm excited to see how that all plays out."