Tiger Woods' role in the LIV Golf merger has been unveiled following a reported fallout with Rory McIlroy. Woods is set to be the sole player involved in peace talks between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), setting him apart from the rest of the golf scene.
The two entities have been in discussions since they announced a surprise framework agreement last June.
However, as it stands, they have yet to seal a deal after missing their December 31 deadline at the end of 2023. On Wednesday, it was disclosed that the PGA Tour has selected five representatives for the negotiations, with 15-time major champion Woods being the only active golfer involved.
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In addition, Jay Monahan, the commissioner of the American-based circuit, will also occupy a negotiation spot. Other negotiators include policy board chairman Joe Gorder, Fenway Sports Group (FSG) principal owner John Henry, and former player-turned-economist Joe Ogilvie.
Woods serves on the Tour's policy board as a player director, a position previously held by his close friend and business associate Rory McIlroy until last November. McIlroy chose to step down from the board last winter, finding himself caught up in the off-course politics between the Tour and LIV.
Six months later, McIlroy has expressed his intentions to return in recent weeks. However, it was revealed at this week's Wells Fargo Championship that his peers, including Woods, decided against plans to reappoint the four-time major winner.
According to Golf Digest, the relationship between Woods and McIlroy has soured due to their differing views on the current state of professional golf.
McIlroy himself addressed his rejection by his fellow players, with Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth, and Patrick all reportedly against the idea of the Northern Irishman returning as a player director. "There's been a lot of conversations," said the Northern Irishman this week.
"Sort of reminded me partly why I didn't [serve on the board]! I think it got pretty complicated and pretty messy and I think with the way it happened, I think it opened up some old wounds and scar tissue from things that have happened before. There was a subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason.
"I think the best course of action is if there are some people on there that aren't comfortable with me coming back on." It was reported by the Guardian in April that Simpson was set to stand aside from his post to allow McIlroy to return, but the American has since opted to remain.
"I think he [Webb] has gotten to a place where he's comfortable with doing that and I just sort of keep doing what I'm doing," McIlroy added. "I put my hand up to help and it was -- I wouldn't say it was rejected, it was a complicated process to get through to put me back on there. So that's all fine, no hard feelings and we'll all move on."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.