No Tiger Woods Ryder Cup rush but PGA-PIF urgency vital: PGA boss
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Tiger Woods plays his shot from the eighth tee during a practice round prior to the 2024 PGA Championship.
PHOTO: AFP
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LOUISVILLE – Tiger Woods will be given plenty of time to decide whether he wants to captain the United States team at the 2025 Ryder Cup, PGA of America chief executive officer Seth Waugh said on May 15.
His comments came after Woods was uncertain if he has time for the job given his training, playing and negotiator role in talks between the PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), backers of the rival LIV Golf series.
“He doesn’t do anything that he’s not fully committed to, and we totally respect that,” Waugh said.
“He has got a lot on his plate right now. He’s very active on the tour side of things. We want to give him and the committee space to decide how it plays out.
“We think there’s plenty of time and putting an artificial date on it is not something we need to do.”
Waugh, however, does want to see some urgency in the PGA-PIF talks to try and finalise a deal from a framework agreement unveiled in June 2023.
“I hope there’s urgency because I do think it’s doing damage to the tour, to the game,” he said.
“I hope it’s short-term damage as opposed to permanent damage. So I hope there’s some urgency in the timing around it because I just don’t think it’s a healthy situation right now.”
Television ratings have dropped for PGA Tour events and even the Masters in April as the world’s top talent are spread among rival tours, united only at the four Major tournaments.
This is a result of Saudi riches luring away several big names from the PGA Tour, including Spain’s fifth-ranked Jon Rahm and 2023 PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka.
“It’s messy and it seems to get messier every week,” Waugh added.
“I’m a very optimistic type and I’m sort of hoping it’s darkest before dawn, but I think the best thing for the game is a deal.
“I don’t think the game is big enough for two tours like that and I think we are diluting the game in a way that is not healthy. I think both sides are not only committed to trying to find a deal but really need a deal.”
Koepka is among 16 LIV players in this week’s field of 156 at the PGA Championship, seven of whom were given special invitations.
LIV’s 54-hole events do not earn world-ranking points, making it hard for LIV talent to qualify for Majors, unless they already have Major wins.
The Majors can issue special invitations to unqualified players to complete a world-class field.
“We’re fortunate to be able to... identify who we think are the best players or potentially the best future players and offer them invitations,” said PGA of America chief championships officer Kerry Haigh, while also suggesting that golf needs to be unified.
“It brings the best players in the whole world together... we’re very proud of the field we have and feel they’re the best players in the game.” AFP
