Tiger Breaks Silence on PIF-PGA Framework Agreement Deadline

Tiger has been trending this week after appearing on the Bridgestone college shoot, talking about his 2024 schedule, and teeing it up himself in the Bahamas later this week.

He has broken a brief media silence before the Hero World Challenge this week, appearing in front of the media for the first time since the news of the framework agreement between LIV and the PGA Tour broke in June.

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He explained his frustration that the players were never involved. It’s a player-run Tour, and being left out of the loop led to negative comments from the Tour’s biggest ambassadors, like Rahm and McIlroy.

“I was frustrated that the players were never involved,” Tiger said, speaking of the framework agreement. “This is our Tour. That can’t happen again.”

— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) November 28, 2023

Tiger explained that the player directors in board positions would not allow a repeat of the blindsiding that occurred in June.

“We have six player directors, so we control the board and what we’re going to do. We’re not going to have what transpired a few months ago without our involvement again.”

The framework agreement has an initial deadline of 31^st December 2023, which is fast approaching. There are plenty of missing details on the agreement, including the level of PIF investment and whether the PGA, DPWT and LIV can simultaneously co-exist.

Sports Illustrated writer Alan Shipnuck has said:

“There are plenty of Wall Street billionaires who would love to fill PIF’s vacated seat at the table.”

Tiger alluded to the various options the PGA Tour has, including private equity firms and sports ownership groups. It is hard to overstate the influence Tiger must have on the PGA Tour and within the policy board, often likened to Arnold Palmer back in the 1990s who firmly shut the door on any idea of a World Golf League.

The players now competing for seven figure paydays have Tiger to thank, who made the sport popular worldwide with sponsors and sports fans, almost single-handedly.

Focusing on the players going forward appears to be Tiger’s main focus. He has already shaped the PGA Tour with his actions with club and ball since bursting onto the scene in the 1990s, and now seeks to assist the future of golf from his position on the board.

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