Tiger Woods has been racking up the frequent flyer miles this past week, bouncing from coast to coast like a man with far too many obligations and not enough time. Sunday saw him awkwardly moonlighting as a commentator at the Genesis Invitational in California—because apparently, being one of the greatest golfers of all time means you can get prime opportunities to talk about the game. Then, on Tuesday night in Florida, he graced his struggling TGL golf league with his presence, managing to embarrass himself in the process.
By Thursday, Woods was in Washington, D.C., because, of course, when billionaires and oil money are squabbling over the future of golf, Tiger is expected to show up and give photographers great photo opps. The White House meeting was reportedly nudged along by none other than Donald Trump, Woods’ golf buddy from Palm Beach County—because nothing says “integrity” quite like a man who literally owns golf courses trying to broker a deal. Also at the table: PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and Saudi Arabia’s money man, YAsir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the bottomless pit of cash behind LIV Golf. Just to keep things looking official, fellow golfer Adam Scott tagged along, fulfilling the role of “other guy in the room.”
But wait, here’s the kicker. Woods also made an appearance at a Black History Month event at the White House, because nothing says genuine advocacy like squeezing in a heritage celebration between meetings with billionaires.
The Never-Ending PGA Tour vs. LIV Saga
For those still pretending this is about “the spirit of the game,” here’s a refresher: Back in 2021, the Saudis decided golf needed more of their money and started poaching PGA Tour players with ludicrous paychecks. Big names like Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau jumped ship, while Woods famously turned down a reported nine-figure offer—perhaps because he already has more money than he knows what to do with.
The PGA Tour, in an act of righteous indignation (and, let’s be real, panic), lashed out against LIV, decrying it as a Saudi “sportswashing” project designed to distract from, among other things, the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Meanwhile, Al-Rumayyan, the PIF chief present at Thursday’s meeting, has his own legal baggage, with allegations that he helped “destroy” the family of a former Saudi intelligence official. Nice guy.
LIV players, for all their riches, were effectively blacklisted from the PGA Tour, relegated to the sidelines except for major tournaments. And because LIV’s quirky format doesn’t count for much in the World Golf Rankings, only two of its players—Tyrrell Hatton (No. 8) and DeChambeau (No. 13)—are even in the top 50. So much for world domination.
Woods’ Take on the Merger: Optimism or Obligation?
Despite all the drama, a PGA-LIV merger has supposedly been in the works since 2023. Woods was initially involved in talks but ducked out due to the death of his mother.
Now, he’s back with a fresh dose of optimism—because what else is he going to say? Speaking at his own Genesis Invitational, Woods claimed, “I think things are going to heal quickly.” Sure, Tiger. Because when billions of dollars, lawsuits, and bruised egos are involved, resolution is always just around the corner.
According to Woods, fans just want to see the best players together, and that’s what the powers-that-be are “going to make happen.” Whether that actually happens, or whether this circus drags on for another few years, remains to be seen. But at least one thing’s clear: Tiger Woods will keep showing up when the cameras—and the checkbooks—call.
