In what now feels like Tiger Woods’ annual state of his professional life session with the media at the Hero World Challenge on Tuesday in the Bahamas, three things came clear:
Woods is continuing to recover from his latest back surgery and, while optimistic that he will be able to play tournament golf in the future, he’s not physically ready to do so yet.
He sounded encouraged about the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – Woods sits on the powerful PGA Tour Policy Board – but offered no indication of when a possible agreement could be reached or what that might look like.
And, Woods believes players on the U.S. Ryder Cup team should receive at least $1 million per man, with all of the money being directed to charities of each player’s choice, reinforcing a position he has held since 1999.
A year ago, Woods said he hoped to play one tournament per month on the PGA Tour, but that didn’t happen. Woods, who will turn 49 later this month, made five starts and completed just one event, the Masters, in which he finished 60th after shooting 82-77 on the weekend.
Woods has played just 13 events in the past four years. On Tuesday, he offered no timetable for a possible return to competition.
“I’m not tournament sharp yet, no. I’m still not there. These are 20 of the best players in the world, and I’m not sharp enough to compete against them at this level. So, when I’m ready to compete and play at this level, then I will,” he said at Albany Golf Club, site of the unofficial event that awards Official World Golf Ranking points.
“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. 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. Hopefully next year will be better; I’ll be physically stronger and better.”
Woods said he dealt with pain and spasms related to his back problems, leading to another microdiscectomy procedure. The pain, Woods said, has been alleviated, but he still has some issues walking related to the ankle injury from his 2021 single-vehicle rollover accident.
He has remained involved in the tour’s business as it navigates the game’s new landscape. Woods said he supported the recent eligibility changes that will cut the number of tour cards awarded each year from 125 to 100 beginning in 2026, saying, “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.”
Woods did not offer much clarity regarding the specifics related to the tour’s talks with the PIF, which bankrolls LIV Golf, other than to suggest the process is ongoing.
“I think all of us who have been a part of this process would have thought it would have happened quicker than this,” Woods said. “Even if we had gotten a deal done by now, it’s still in the [Department of Justice] hands, but we wish we would have had something more concrete and further along than we are right now ….
“This is an active negotiation and things are happening daily, weekly and it’s evolving. We all want to get past this and to do what’s best for the tour, and in trying to do that, there’s going to be – some eggs are going to be knocked over and it’s going to be a little bit difficult at times, but in the end we’re going to get a product that’s better for all the fans and all the players that are involved and get some peace that the game desperately needs.
“I think something will get done. In what form or shape, I don’t know yet.”
It is also unclear how compensation for future U.S. Ryder Cup players will change after reports that players want to receive more than the $200,000 stipend that each man gets to be directed to charities of his choice.
“The Ryder Cup itself makes so much money. Why can’t we allocate it to various charities? And what’s wrong with each player, 12 players getting a million dollars and the ability to divvy out to amazing charities that they’re involved in that they can help out?”
While some members of the European team have said they will continue to play without direct compensation, it appears likely the Americans will get more going forward.
Woods endorsed players getting compensated in 1999, which led to the PGA of America implementing the charitable contributions to each player.
“We had the same conversation back in ’99, and it was, we didn’t want to get paid; we wanted to give more money to charity, and the media turned it around against us and said we want to get paid,” Woods said.
“The Ryder Cup itself makes so much money. Why can’t we allocate it to various charities? And what’s wrong with each player, 12 players getting a million dollars and the 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. 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?”
Woods later suggested players receive more than $1 million apiece.
“I hope they would get $5 million each and donate it all to charity, different charities,” he said. “I think it’s great. What’s wrong with that?”