Tiger Woods joins PGA Tour board and says golf is at ‘a critical point’ after shock plans to merge with LIV

Tiger Woods has been added to the PGA Tour’s board after lobbying from 41 of the world’s leading players amid serious trust issues brought on by the recent merger with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

The Tour and its commissioner, Jay Monahan, have faced huge criticism from the game’s leading lights over the secretive alliance that was struck up with the backers of the LIV circuit in June.

A number of top golfers, including Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler, had privately pushed for Woods, an outspoken critic of LIV, to have a seat at the table at a point when the practicalities of the merger are still up in the air and yet to be agreed.

In a move towards greater ‘transparency’ with their disgruntled membership, the PGA Tour announced on Tuesday the 15-time major winner will now take up a position as the sixth ‘player director’ on their policy board.

Woods said: ‘This is a critical point for the Tour, and the players will do their best to make certain that any changes that are made in Tour operations are in the best interest of all Tour stakeholders, including fans, sponsors and players.

‘The players thank commissioner Monahan for agreeing to address our concerns, and we look forward to being at the table with him to make the right decisions for the future of the game that we all love. He has my confidence moving forward with these changes.’

It is a key intervention from Woods, whose standing in the game is unmatched and, as such, will have a considerable bearing on negotiations around the merger. To date, the majority of golf’s star names are still in the dark about how the contentious union will be manifested, with a lingering resentment that they were not consulted ahead of an agreement being struck.

Monahan, who recently returned to work following an undisclosed ‘medical situation’, said: ‘I am committed to taking the necessary steps to restore any lost trust or confidence that occurred as a result of the surprise announcement of our framework agreement (with the PIF).

‘My job in the negotiations is to advocate for what is best for the PGA Tour members today and in the future. Any agreement we reach must be shaped by our members’ input and approval earned through our player directors.’

Woods, who has not played since April as he recovers from foot surgery, joins McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, Charley Hoffman, Peter Malnati and Webb Simpson as a player director on the Tour’s policy board.