Tiger Woods Addresses Future, PGA Tour Changes, and Ryder Cup Compensation
While Tiger Woods may be sidelined from this year’s Hero World Challenge, the golfing legend made his presence felt during his annual pre-tournament press conference in the Bahamas. Woods, the tournament’s host, fielded questions about his health, the potential return to competitive golf, the future of the PGA Tour, and even weighed in on the compensation of Ryder Cup players.
Regarding his own game, Woods was candid about the challenges he’s faced. “Well, who would have thought my back would go like it did this year?” he admitted. “It was quite painful throughout the end of the year and hence I had another procedure done to alleviate the pain I had going down my leg. So whether my commitment going forward is once a month, yeah, I could say that all over again, but I truly don’t know. I’m just trying to rehab and still get stronger and better and feel better, really give myself the best chance I can going into next year.”
Reflecting on a tough year, Woods acknowledged the need for improvement: “This year was kind of — I had to toss it away and I wasn’t as sharp as I needed to be and I didn’t play as much as I needed to going into the major championships and I didn’t play well at them.” Looking ahead, he expressed optimism: “Hopefully next year will be better, I’ll be physically stronger and better. I know the procedure helped and hopefully that I can then build upon that.”
Woods also addressed the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). “I think all of us who have been a part of this process would have thought it would have happened quicker than this,” he said.
He acknowledged the role of the Department of Justice: “Even if we had gotten a deal done by now, it’s still in the DOJ’s hands, but we wish we would have had something more concrete and further along than we are right now.” Despite the delays, Woods remained hopeful: “Things are very fluid, we’re still working through it, it’s happening daily.” He emphasized progress on the policy front: “From a policy board standpoint or from an enterprise standpoint, things are moving and they’re constructive. But yes, definitely moving.”
As a member of the PGA Tour Policy Board, Woods offered insight into recent changes to field sizes and eligibility. "The entire — I’ll say the majority of the Tour felt the same way," he explained. "The PAC was involved, the subcommittees on the PAC were involved and it was unanimous across the board what we need to do to present a better product and something better for our fans, for our events, our sponsors. Redefining what a Tour pro is, streamlining that. Yes, playing opportunities have been reduced at certain parts, but also then again we also have player equity in this as well — involved as well, which has never happened before. So the players who are playing, they’re going to get well compensated going forward, which that was never the case.”
Woods also shared his thoughts on the possibility of American golfers receiving payment for participating in the Ryder Cup. "Well, I would have to say that going back to my playing days, we had the same conversation back in ’99 and it was we didn’t want to get paid," he explained, "we wanted to give more money to charity, and the media turned it around against us and said we want to get paid.
No, the Ryder Cup itself makes so much money, why can’t we allocate it to various charities?" He envisioned a scenario where players could use their earnings for greater good: “And what’s wrong with each player, 12 players getting a million dollars and the six ability to divvy out to amazing charities that they’re involved in that they can help out? It’s their hometowns, where they’re from, all the different junior golf associations or endeavors that the members are involved in.”
He emphasized that financial compensation shouldn’t be the focus: "It’s never really been about getting paid, it’s how can we allocate funds to help our sport or help things that we believe in back home, because it’s so hard to get onto that team, there’s only 12 guys. What’s wrong with being able to allocate more funds?"
Addressing the legacy of his father and his role in shaping Tiger’s approach to the game, Woods shared a story about his 1997 Masters victory and his subsequent decision to alter his swing. “That was on me to make that move. That was a conversation I had with Butch (Harmon) and I wanted to make a golf swing that was going to compete week in, week out,” he explained.
Now focused on recovery and returning to competitive golf, Woods remains a prominent voice within the sport and continues to shape its future.
