The DP World Tour is still waiting to be granted an exclusive place at the negotiating table after Tiger Woods was confirmed as the sole player who will be involved in the PGA Tour’s crunch summits with the Saudi Public Investment Fund.

Guy Kinnings, the Wentworth chief executive, recently urged the respective parties to get “the right people with the right intent into a room to try and find a solution [to reach a peace deal]” and when asked which organisations should be in the talks he said that as well as the the PGA Tour and PIF, the DP World Tour should be involved.

However, despite Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour commissioner, also being a member of the DP World Tour board – and the DP World Tour being a long-standing ‘strategic alliance’ partner with the PGA Tour – the European circuit will not have a dedicated representative at the talks which, one way or the other, will determine the future of the men’s professional game and decide if any more big names are lured to LIV, the breakaway league funded by PIF.

Woods will be part of the five-strong PGA Tour negotiating team, also featuring Monahan, board chairman Joe Gorder, Liverpool FC owner John W Henry and former Tour winner turned financier, Joe Ogilvie.

Henry is in the “transaction committee” through his role as head of the Strategic Sports Group, an American coalition that has pumped more than £1 billion of private equity into PGA Tour Enterprises, the new for-profit entity set up in the wake of the ‘framework agreement’ signed with the Saudis last summer.

These negotiations will be between PIF and PGA Tour Enterprises and as the DP World Tour is not yet a part of the latter, it will not have a seat of its own. This will surely be a source of concern in the European locker rooms, especially after Rory McIlroy’s attempts to rejoin the PGA Tour board were blocked by Woods and two other player directors in Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth.

Australian Adam Scott is the only non-American on the board, which will ultimately have the power to veto any deal agreed with PIF. There are fears that US insularity will scupper the deal-making. McIlroy explained as much after revealing that “there was a subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason”.

However, the Northern Irishman believes that the American pros need to compromise and row in behind the concept of a global circuit, which is the obvious solution to the LIV split. “Do the American players that are used to playing all their golf in America want to travel outside of the States 12 times a year to play tournament golf?” McIlroy said. He also reiterated his conviction that LIV rebels should be able to return unpunished.

McIlroy’s opinions clearly do not chime with some of the main characters in this increasingly torrid saga.

Webb Simpson had told the board he would step down, but only if McIlroy could take his place. In a stunning move, Woods and co voted this down, meaning Simpson stays on and that McIlroy’s influence as a big voice who believes a deal should be done as quickly as possible with PIF to end the civil war, remains on the outside.

Monahan tried to play down the McIlroy snub. “Today’s news is in no way a commentary on Rory’s important influence,” Monahan said in a statement released to US media. “It’s simply a matter of adherence to our governance process by which a Tour player becomes a board member.”

That explanation does not make much sense, seeing as Woods and Spieth were appointed in much the same way. McIlroy’s rejection inevitably caused consternation on this side of the pond.

When it emerged last month that McIlroy was eager to resume his role of the board that he quit last year after becoming exasperated at the snail-pace of the negotiations, Kinnings said he would “wholeheartedly welcome” the development.

“I was always delighted to have European representation,” Kinnings said. “I think it is far better to have a global view and Rory truly has that.”

Considering the international nature of his Tour, Kinnings’ wish for a worldwide answer to unify the game is unsurprising. “The American players realising that they will have to travel to enhance their brands is something they will have to compromise on,” Kinnings said. “If we all recognise that the game will be damaged without a solution I think the players will come round.”

Rory McIlroy says there is “no strain” in his relationship with Tiger Woods but admits they have different views on the future of men’s professional golf.

The disagreement arises from ongoing negotiations on a possible deal between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian backers of LIV Golf.

World number two McIlroy, who has softened his stance on the breakaway LIV tour, revealed he is now a member of the “transaction subcommittee” that is trying to do a deal.

However, McIlroy said on Wednesday that he will not be returning to the PGA Tour’s policy board after it “got pretty complicated and pretty messy”.

The Telegraph reported, external that 15-time major winner Woods voted against McIlroy re-joining the board.

“I would say, I mean, I think friends can have disagreements or not see things – I guess not – not see eye to eye on things but have disagreements on things,” McIlroy said.

“I think that’s fine. But no, I wouldn’t say – we had a really good talk last Friday for 45 minutes just about a lot of different things.

“No, there’s no strain there. I think we might see the future of golf a little bit differently, but I don’t think that should place any strain on a relationship or on a friendship.”

Tiger Woods will be the lone player on a five-member subcommittee that will be involved in negotiations with the Public Investment Fund, part of a busy day of governance as the PGA Tour tries to strike a deal with Saudi backers of LIV Golf.

Woods was appointed to the PGA Tour board in August, making him the sixth player-director and the only one whose board term has no limits.

The tour said Woods will be part of the “transaction subcommittee” on the board of PGA Tour Enterprises that will handle day-to-day negotiations as PIF seeks to become a minority investor.

Also on the subcommittee are PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, board chairman Joe Gorder, John W. Henry of Fenway Sports Group and Joe Ogilvie, a former tour player appointed as a director liaison in March.

The subcommittee reports back to the full board.

The developments capped a day that began with Rory McIlroy losing the inside track on rejoining the board as Webb Simpson’s replacement when board members resisted his return.

“I think there was a subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason,” McIlroy said at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a $20 million signature event is being played.

Simpson had offered to resign, but only if McIlroy were to replace him. When a player director resigns, the other players on the board have to unanimously agree on a successor. McIlroy resigned from the board in November, and the players selected Jordan Spieth to replace him.

The seven players — Woods, Spieth, Simpson, Ogilvie, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott and Peter Malnati — are on the board of the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Enterprises, the commercial entity that agreed to a deal with Strategic Sports Group as a minority investor.

That deal included a $1.5 billion investment, which could be as much as $3 billion.

McIlroy was willing to return, believing he could help find a solution to the split in golf that has left some of the best players on two tours. McIlroy sees the reunification in some form as the ultimate goal and rubbed players the wrong way when he suggested earlier this year that LIV players return without punishment.

“Today’s news is in no way a commentary on Rory’s important perspective and influence,” Monahan said in a statement. “It’s simple a matter of adherence to our governance process by which a tour player becomes a board member.

“Webb remaining in his position as a member of the policy board and PGA Tour Enterprises board through the end of his term provides the continuity needed at this vital time,” he said. “We are making progress in our negotiations with the PIF.”

McIlroy is certain to stay involved in an unofficial capacity based on his experience of two years on the board and his voice in the game. He was the only European tour member on the PGA Tour board, and McIlroy has cultivated relationships across continents during his career.

He had said on a British soccer podcast at the start of this year that he met with the PIF governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in late 2022 and that he returned home and encouraged the tour board to meet with him.

The framework agreement among the PGA Tour, European tour and PIF was announced June 6, with a deadline to finalize it by the end of 2023. Negotiations continue with little progress.

Woods was among the player directors who went to the Bahamas on March 18 — Monahan and Henry also attended — to meet with Al-Rumayyan.

Woods said at the Masters about that meeting, “I don’t know if we’re closer, but certainly we’re headed in the right direction. That was a very positive meeting, and I think both sides came away from the meeting feeling positive.”

Gorder is the chairman and CEO of Valero, the title sponsor of the Texas Open. He has been appointed the inaugural chairman of the PGA Tour Enterprises board.

Tiger Woods’ son Charlie offered his dad some advice on his swing at the Masters with the 48-year-old struggling with motion in his hips following his 2021 car accident.

Woods was badly injured and required an emergency operation at the nearby Harbor UCLA Medical Centre with the interior unit of the vehicle shielding the golfer from a fatal accident.

Despite the discomfort, Woods has resumed playing professional golf. He retired from the third round of the Masters last year due to severe pain in his foot and ankle and undertook an eight-month break to prepare for what was expected to be a big 2024.

Woods announced his intention to compete in one event each month this year – but he quickly encountered problems, withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational with influenza and skipping March’s Houston Open heading into Augusta in April for the 2024 Masters.

Woods made the cut at Augusta but then struggled and only managed a 60th-placed finish. His son Charlie, 15, was on hand to try and coach his legendary dad, who’s still feeling the effects of the 2021 car crash. At one point, Charlie was seen coaching motion.

“We are,” Woods said when asked on the Today Show whether he and his son were working together on his swing. Charlie has aspirations of becoming a professional golfer himself and looks on track to follow in his father’s footsteps. Whether he manages to beat Woods’ 15 majors is yet to be seen. “It was just like being at home,” Woods continued on practicing with his son. “It was like being at home when we were practicing at home.

“I’m trying to keep the club tight to my body. I’m trying to keep my arm path tight to my body and not let it run on, basically trying to get my hips to move. I’ve struggled with my hips moving, especially since my accident, my right leg doesn’t work that well.

“So, I have a hard time with that – I tend to slide. When I slide, I tend to hit these blocks and I’m trying to get that out of my system. He puts the club there to incentivise me to turn.”

Woods’ daughter Sam isn’t as interested in golf as her brother, though. “She has, I think, a kinda negative connotation to the game.,” Woods continued.

“Because at that time, when she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her. I had to pack, and I had to leave, and I had been gone for weeks, and there’s a negative connotation to it.”

The 82-time PGA Tour winner is exempt at the Masters and the PGA Championship for life as a past champion. Woods also has an Open Championship spot until he is 60. But his US Open exemption ran out last year.

This was the first time since 1996—when he was an amateur — that Tiger Woods wasn’t qualified for all four majors. But the USGA’s invitation was expected. The former world no. 1 would be at Pinehurst No. 2 regardless to receive the 2024 Bob Jones Award.

Woods made the record of 24 straight cuts at the Masters this year. But the very next day, the 48-year-old carded 10-over 82, his worst Major round. So fans are not sure if this was the right decision on the USGA’s part. Especially when so many youngsters, including his son, Charlie Woods, are struggling for a berth through US Open qualifiers.

Tiger Woods should have left the spot for a rising star, fans proclaim

The Hall of Famer has had troubles with his body after the ankle surgery. In a chat with Carson Woods, he quipped that he hurt every day after the Masters. Tiger Woods had to play 23 holes on Friday due to a weather-delayed first round. The veteran was spotted with a pain patch on his back. Experts believed his body stopped cooperating after a marathon second round. Hence, a 10-over moving day.

A section of golf fans commented that Woods is taking up a slot that should have gone to some youngster. Some already believe a missed cut or a withdrawal is inevitable. “Tiger has had a great run but the exemption should of gone to a deserving young tour player,” one fan opined. Another one took a jab, “Exempt to WD, how awesome.” “Congrats to tiger. My prediction (sic) is he don’t make the cut,” another wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

For the first time in his career, Tiger Woods has received an invitation to a major.

The USGA issued a ticket for the 48-year-old golfer who will return to Pinehurst 2 (North Carolina) to a tournament he has not played since 2020 and which he has won three times, the last time in 2008 in that playoff on Monday when he won with a limp and where all his physical problems began to manifest themselves definitively.

The news comes after Woods‘ exemption for the US Open expired last year when his five-year exemption for all majors, achieved thanks to his victory at the 2019 Masters, the 15th major of his career, came to an end.

US Open winners have a 10-year exemption for that tournament. “The history of this tournament cannot be written without him,” said the organisers to justify his invitation and not having to go to the qualifiers, which several of the players at LIV Golf, for example, will have to attend.

“I am honoured to receive this exemption and I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to compete in this year’s US Open, especially at Pinehurst, a place that means so much to golf,” said Tiger.

Tiger Woods’ son is all ears when it comes to receiving advice from his dad — as long as it’s about golf.

On Wednesday, May 1, the professional golfer, 48, appeared on Today and spoke with Carson Daly about how his son Charlie, 15, recently joined him at the PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida.

“Charlie’s fantastic, he’s 15, saw you at the PNC, you guys played together there. He’s tried to qualify for a few events,” Daly began. “Tell me about that relationship on the course. I’ve got a teenager who doesn’t want to hear anything out of my mouth about his golf swing. Are you coach, are you Dad?”

“Okay, but he will listen to you about broadcasting, right?” Woods asked, to which Daly responded with a yes.

“That’s the same thing. He listens to me about golf but not anything else outside of that, cause I don’t know anything else,” Woods lamented. “And even then, there’s a little bit of pushback in golf. Which is totally cool, he’s 15 years old. It’s what happens. What teenagers go through. They’re trying to find their own place in the world.”

Woods shares his son and daughter Sam, 16, with ex Elin Nordegren.