Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and many other top PGA Tour players met in a Wilmington, Delaware hotel Tuesday regarding the future of the league amid the ongoing LIV Golf saga.

After the meeting, McIlroy appeared pleased with the direction the players are headed.

"I think the one thing that came out of it, which I think was the purpose, is all the top players on this tour are in agreement and alignment of where we should go going forward, and that was awesome," McIlroy said, per ESPN's Mark Schlabach.

The PGA Tour is in Wilmington for the upcoming BMW Championship, which marks the second-to-last tournament of the season and the second leg of the playoffs.

McIlroy didn't discuss what was said in the three-hour meeting, noting that those thoughts are not for a "public forum right now."

Xander Schauffele, who also attended the meeting, said the ideas expressed were "new" and "fresh." He also noted that he would like to see a peaceful resolution in the ongoing battle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

"Some sort of unity," Schauffele said regarding what he wants to see. "[Golf is] definitely fractured currently. Yeah, we're just in the middle of it. In a nice peaceful way would be a nice outcome."

As noted by Schlabach, roughly 20-25 PGA Tour players attended the meeting, including Scottie Scheffler, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, who also made some public remarks.

"It was a productive meeting," Thomas said. "It's just something that the players who are involved just want the best for the tour and want what's in the best interest. I think it's just one of those things where we all want what's best for the players, and we're working to do that."

The upstart LIV Golf, which is financed by Saudi Arabia's Private Investment Fund, has wooed away some of golf's biggest names, including Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson. LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman said that Woods was offered between $700 million and $800 million to join the league, but he turned it down.

A report from the Telegraph of London stated that reigning Open champion Cam Smith is set to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf as well.

Recent drama between PGA Tour and LIV Golf includes a judge denying a restraining order from Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones, three LIV golfers who were looking to participate in the PGA Tour's FedExCup playoffs.

The PGA Tour has suspended players who has left for LIV Golf. Other PGA Tour golfers who left for LIV, such as Kevin Na, have simply resigned.

Mickelson, DeChambeau and other LIV golfers have also filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour claiming that the tour's restrictive policies hinder LIV's ability to compete.

Tiger Woods reportedly met with several of the top golfers in the world on Tuesday amid a steady stream of players leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.

According to ESPN's Mark Schlabach, Woods and his fellow golfer and close friend, Rickie Fowler, flew to Wilmington, Delaware, which is where the BMW Championship is being held this week.

Schlabach noted that the three-and-a-half-hour meeting was held at an off-course hotel and included the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, among others.

An anonymous golfer who attended the meeting called it "good," and said it was "about all the top players getting on the same page." Schlabach added that it was meant to "rally support" for the PGA Tour.

Earlier Tuesday, Schlabach reported that the meeting would take place following a scheduled PGA Tour Player Advisory Council meeting. He added that it would involve many of the top 20 players in the world and "other influential PGA Tour members" who have remained loyal to the PGA Tour and refrained from jumping to LIV Golf.

An anonymous golfer who was invited to the meeting said, "It's a meeting to get the top 20 players in the world on the same page on how we can continue to make the PGA Tour the best product in professional golf."

When LIV Golf held its first event in June, the field included a few notable names, including major champions such as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia and Louis Oosthuizen.

Since then, the promise of huge signing bonuses, massive tournament purses and fewer tournaments than the PGA Tour has led to even more high-profile golfers joining the upstart league.

Among them are Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson, and they have been joined by several mid-tier players as well.

Golfers who have made the leap have faced criticism since LIV Golf is financially backed by Saudi Arabia, and the country has been accused of "sportswashing," which is the act of using sports to mask or minimize greater issues, such as human rights violations.

The PGA Tour has taken a hardline stance against players who have defected, banning them from PGA Tour events, although those with the proper qualifications have been permitted to play in major tournaments.

A handful of top PGA Tour players have been outspoken against those who have left for LIV Golf, with Rory McIlroy and Woods being chief among them.

Per Schlabach, Tiger had some strong words for LIV Golf members last month, saying: "I disagree with it. I think that what they've done is they've turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position."

The 46-year-old Woods, arguably the greatest golfer of all time with 15 major victories and 82 PGA Tour wins to his credit, had the opportunity to leave for LIV Golf but turned it down.

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman said earlier this month that LIV Golf offered Woods a whopping $700 million to $800 million to join, only for Tiger to remain loyal to the PGA Tour.

Injuries have taken a toll on Woods and knocked him from the ranks of the top players in the world while limiting him to only playing in majors.

It is unlikely that he will ever earn close to $700 million to $800 million for the remainder of his PGA Tour career without factoring in endorsements, but Woods still decided to stand by the tour he has called home since 1996.

Tiger Woods has said in the past that he has no intentions of jumping from the PGA Tour to the LIV Golf Invitational Series, but he's apparently sacrificing an eye-popping payday.

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman said to Tucker Carlson that the upstart tour offered Woods a deal in the range of $700-$800 million to jump ship.

Norman had said in June that the offer made to Woods was "mind-blowingly enormous," adding, "we're talking about high nine digits." Now, the actual range has been revealed.

LIV Golf is backed financially by the Saudi Arabian government, which has faced scrutiny for its history of human rights violations and been accused of sportswashing. While many notable golfers have joined the tour because of the monetary gain, Woods has not been tempted.

"Well, he certainly doesn't need the money. Legacy is a big deal to Tiger," New York Post reporter Mark Cannizzaro told Pro Football Talk's Peter King recently. "Tiger is a big golf nerd. He is heavily aligned with the PGA Tour. He's not going to cross the PGA."

While speaking to reporters last month at the 150th Open Championship, Woods made it clear that he is loyal to the PGA Tour and has no interest in joining LIV.

"The players who have chosen to go to LIV and play there, I disagree with it," Woods said. "I think that what they've done is they've turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position."

Woods also took a shot at Norman for forming the breakaway tour, saying, "I know Greg tried to do this back in the early '90s. It didn't work then, and he's trying to make it work now. I still don't see how that's in the best interests of the game."

In his first tournament since May, Tiger Woods sits at five over after the first round of the JP McManus Pro-Am.

The superstar sits tied for 43rd place out of 50 entries in the two-round event at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland.

The tournament features some of the biggest names in the sport, including Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and more. Each pro is also paired with three amateurs in a "Shamble" format.

According to the official site, the foursomes are playing a best ball off the tee before continuing the hole. The best score in each hole counts, although the amateurs can only contribute with a birdie or better.

Woods was paired with Irish businessman Michael Smurfit and his family members Tony Smurfit and Sharon Smurfit.

It means the professional is doing most of the work, but the rest of the group still gets the positive experience of playing with a superstar.

Woods is likely using this experience as practice ahead of The Open Championship, and there were certainly some positive moments.

The 46-year-old came through with an eagle on No. 12 with an impressive chip-in:

Tiger roar in Ireland 🙌@JPProAm | #JPProAm2022 pic.twitter.com/A1rqad8NoW

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 4, 2022

Woods had a birdie on the par-four 10th hole, preventing what could have been a much worse day.

The veteran also had some quality shots off the tee over the course of the round:

A perfect tee shot by @TigerWoods to start his day at the JP McManus Pro Am.

📺: @peacockTV pic.twitter.com/GjnpJYxaev

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 4, 2022

That slow-mo of @TigerWoods' form. 🤩

📺: @peacockTV pic.twitter.com/TvGQsUbMdh

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 4, 2022

It still wasn't the best showing for Tiger in a round that featured six bogeys and one double bogey.

The worst moment of the round came on the fifth hole when his long putt attempt went nowhere:

Golf is cruel. Even to one of the best to ever play the game.

📺: @peacockTV pic.twitter.com/tiKmP5ghdL

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 4, 2022

His teammates had eight birdies but the foursome still sits tied for 28th in the team standings after Round 1.

Woods likely won't lose too much sleep over this tournament, but he must improve with the British Open less than two weeks away.

Michael Jordan and LeBron James have company in the billionaire athletes club.

Per Matt Craig of Forbes, Tiger Woods' net worth is estimated to be $1 billion, thanks in large part to his sponsorship deals with Gatorade, Monster Energy, TaylorMade, Rolex and Nike.

Craig noted that less than 10 percent of Woods' career earnings and net worth came from prize money on the golf course.

Forbes' estimation of Woods' net worth comes at a controversial moment for the sport of golf.

The PGA Tour announced Thursday it has suspended 17 members who are playing in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series event in London this weekend.

LIV Golf is being funded by the Saudi Arabian government. The league is considered the latest attempt by the Saudi government to sportswash—the practice of using positive coverage from its involvement in sports to improve its overall reputation amid accusations of numerous human rights violations.

Two-time major winner Greg Norman, CEO of LIV Golf Investments, told Kent Babb of the Washington Post that Woods turned down a "mind-blowingly enormous" deal in the "high nine digits" to play for the organization.

Forbes inducted James into the billionaire club last week. Jordan hit the mark six years ago, and his net worth has increased to an estimated $1.7 billion in 2022.

James and Woods are the only active athletes to have an estimated net worth of at least $1 billion.

Joe Favorito, a veteran sports business consultant and Columbia lecturer, told Craig that Woods "hit the right time in the right sport, being an athlete with a diverse background who was approachable."

Per Emmanuel Ocbazghi and Tony Manfred of Business Insider, Woods signed a $200 million contract with Nike in 2013. He has been a partner with the iconic sports brand since 1996.

According to Sam Dunn of Boardroom.TV, Woods' business portfolio includes middle-market company investments via his TGR Ventures firm. He also owns and operates a golf course design firm and an upscale sports restaurant in Jupiter, Florida.

Woods' 82 career wins are tied with Sam Snead for the most in PGA Tour history. The 46-year-old also has 15 victories in major tournaments, second only to Jack Nicklaus (18).

Tiger Woods announced Tuesday he won't take part in next week's 2022 U.S. Open at the Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

The 15-time major champion expressed optimism he'll be ready to play before the Open Championship, which will take place at the legendary Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland next month:

I previously informed the USGA that I will not be competing in the @usopengolf as my body needs more time to get stronger for major championship golf. I do hope and plan to be ready to play in Ireland at @JPProAm and at @TheOpen next month. I’m excited to get back out there soon!

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) June 7, 2022

Woods withdrew from the PGA Championship in May after a third round where he was in obvious physical discomfort en route to a nine-over 79.

The 46-year-old fan favorite returned to competition at the Masters in April, just 14 months after suffering significant leg injuries in a February 2021 car crash in California.

While there have been flashes of the pure ball-striking that made him nearly unbeatable in his prime, putting together four rounds has proved elusive as he works to regain stamina.

Woods posted a 78-78 over the weekend at Augusta. After a promising 69 in the second round of the PGA Championship, he carded seven bogeys and a triple bogey during a Saturday round that featured far more pain-filled winces than birdies.

Sitting out the U.S. Open gives him an extra month of rest and recovery before his next tournament.

The JP McManus Pro-Am, which benefits charities in Ireland, is set for July 4-5, followed by the Open Championship on July 14-17.

In November, Woods confirmed to Henni Koyack of Golf Digest his days of playing a full PGA Tour schedule are behind him.

"I think something that is realistic is playing the tour one day—never full-time, ever again—but pick and choose, just like Mr. [Ben] Hogan did. Pick and choose a few events a year and you play around that," he said.

Most likely, that means trying to play the four majors and a select few other events where he's found consistent success in the past, such as the Arnold Palmer Invitational (eight wins).

Skipping the U.S. Open to give himself a better chance to get closer to full strength for the trip to St. Andrews doesn't come as a surprise, though. He won the Open Championship at the famed Scottish venue in both 2000 and 2005.

While he's yet to show the form necessary to contend for a 16th major title, which would move him within two of Jack Nicklaus for the all-time record, Tiger has maintained since the day he arrived on tour that he only shows up to an event if he believes he can win.

He figures to deliver that same message when he arrives at St Andrews next month.

LIV Golf, the breakaway golf tour backed by Saudi Arabia attempting to position itself as a major competitor to the PGA Tour, apparently tried to convince the biggest name in golf to join the fold.

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman told Kent Babb of the Washington Post (h/t Joel Beall of Golf Digest) that Woods was offered a deal that was "mind-blowingly enormous; we're talking about high nine digits."

Woods previously told reporters he is committed to the PGA Tour:

You know, [Phil Mickelson] has his opinion on where he sees the game of golf going. I have my viewpoint on how I see the game of golf, and I've supported the tour and my foundation has run events on the tour for a number of years. I just think that what Jack [Nicklaus] and Arnold [Palmer] have done in starting the tour and breaking away from the PGA of America and creating our tour in '68 or '69, somewhere in there, I just think there's a legacy to that.

I've been playing out here for a couple of years over decades, and I think there's a legacy to it. I still think that the tour has so much to offer, so much opportunity. … I understand different viewpoints, but I believe in legacies; I believe in major championships; I believe in big events, comparisons to historical figures of the past. There's plenty of money out here. The tour is growing. But it's just like any other sport. It's like tennis. You have to go out there and earn it. You've got to go out there and play for it. We have opportunity to go ahead and do it. It's just not guaranteed up front.

Beall noted PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said players will be suspended or perhaps even banned if they joined LIV Golf. The PGA Tour also denied releases for players to participate in the rival league's inaugural event in London, which starts Thursday and conflicts with the RBC Canadian Open.

Woods wasn't the only member of proverbial golf royalty approached by the Saudi-backed league.

Jack Nicklaus, who holds the record for major championships at 18 and hosts the Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour's schedule, told Michael Bamberger of the Fire Pit Collective he was "offered something in excess of $100 million by the Saudis, to do the job probably similar to the one that Greg [Norman] is doing."

He also said, "I've got zero interest in wanting to do something like that. I don't care what kind of money they would have thrown at me. My allegiance has been to the PGA Tour. I grew up on the PGA Tour. I helped found the PGA Tour as it is today. My allegiance is there and it's going to stay there."

Norman told Babb that Nicklaus is a "hypocrite" who previously suggested that LIV Golf would be "good for our game."

Norman also said Rory McIlroy is someone who has been "brainwashed" by the PGA Tour "monopolists" after the four-time major champion told reporters the LIV Golf field is nothing to "jump up and down about."

That field will include Phil Mickelson, who announced he signed with the rival league even though he still intends to play in majors:

pic.twitter.com/riT2ot0yvk

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) June 6, 2022

Brentley Romine of Golf Channel reported Lefty's contract is worth approximately $200 million, making him part of a group that includes Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen, Kevin Na and Sergio Garcia and may compete in London.

There are some notable names, but the massive money wasn't enough to convince Woods.

Justin Thomas earned his second career major championship and some praise from arguably the greatest golfer in the sport's history on Sunday.

Tiger Woods congratulated his good friend after Thomas held off Will Zalatoris in a three-hole playoff to win the 2022 PGA Championship:

Big congrats to @JustinThomas34! He kept himself in this championship until the very end and once he got his shot he didn’t look back. Thanks to Tulsa and the @PGAChampionship for a great week.

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) May 23, 2022

Woods also competed in the tournament at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but withdrew following the third round. It was just the second official tour event since November 2020 for the 15-time major champion, who suffered serious leg injuries in a February 2021 car crash.

Much like Woods has done a number of times throughout his career, Thomas kept the pressure on the top of the leaderboard with a strong finish. His final bogey came on the sixth hole in Sunday's final round, and he birdied Nos. 9, 11, 12 and 17.

That paid off when Mito Pereira lost his one-stroke lead with a double-bogey on the 18th hole, and Thomas took advantage of the opportunity by defeating Zalatoris in the playoff.

Tough weather conditions made for an interesting third round at the PGA Championship on Saturday, as players had to overcome unexpected challenges to make their way up the leaderboard.

Mito Pereira (-9) is now in the lead after shooting a one-under 69 to overtake the top spot. Pereira had entered the round in second place.

Birdie on the last for Mito Pereira 💪

Solo leader with a 3-shot lead heading into Sunday.pic.twitter.com/9Z4ytWWKKs

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 21, 2022

Pereira will have a three-stroke lead heading into the final round Sunday.

Will Zalatoris, who was the leader after the second round, opened with four bogeys in his first seven holes. He finished with a three-over 73 to fall into a tie for second with Matt Fitzpatrick, who shot a three-under 67 to make a leap.

Here's a look at the top-10 leaderboard as well as other notable scores heading into the final round, plus a deeper dive into Saturday's action including Tiger Woods' massive struggles that led to his withdrawal from the event.

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PGA Championship Top 10 Leaderboard

1. Mito Pereira (-9)

T2. Will Zalatoris (-6)

T2. Matt Fitzpatrick (-6)

4. Cameron Young (-5)

5. Abraham Ancer (-4)

6. Seamus Power (-3)

T7. Bubba Watson (-2)

T7. Justin Thomas (-2)

T7. Stewart Cink (-2)

T10. Webb Simpson (-1)

T10. Chris Kirk (-1)

T10. Max Homa (-1)

T10. Sam Burns (-1)

T10. Davis Riley (-1)

T10. Gary Woodland (-1)

T10. Lucas Herbert (-1)

Other Notables: Rory McIlroy (E), Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler (+2), Brooks Koepka (+4), Jordan Spieth and Jason Day (+5), Hideki Matsuyama (+6), Collin Morikawa and Jon Rahm (+8), Tiger Woods (+12)

Full leaderboard available at PGATour.com

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Notes and Highlights

After opening the back nine with bogeys in two of his first three holes, Pereira finished strong. He shot under three on the remaining six holes, birdieing Nos. 13, 14 and 18, to save the day.

Mito Pereira becomes the first player to hold the outright 54-hole lead in their PGA Championship debut since John Daly in 1991.

— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) May 21, 2022

It's the first time in Pereira's career that he holds the lead after any round in any PGA Tour event.

Fitzpatrick recorded back-to-back bogeys to start the round, but he quickly recovered. The 27-year-old played a clean back nine and closed with two straight birdies to vault into contention.

Back-to-back birdies to end his round 🐦

Currently T2 at -6 @MattFitz94pic.twitter.com/CWItwVP4O4

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 21, 2022

Cameron Young made a jump into the top five thanks to a late surge. He recorded an eagle on the 17th hole to put himself in great position heading into Sunday.

Eagle to move to T3 🦅

Cameron Young drove the green on No. 17 to set up this 24 footer.pic.twitter.com/9G7BsHDCBn

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 21, 2022

Webb Simpson had the best round of the day with a five-under 65 to crack the top 10. He played a clean back nine that included three birdies and an eagle.

Fist bumps and smiles all around for Webb Simpson after this EPIC eagle to get to 3-under on Saturday. 🤛😀 #PGAChamp | @PGAChampionship

pic.twitter.com/E3sqdwNXtv

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 21, 2022

Woods had the roughest time dealing with the weather conditions Saturday. Playing in just his second event since last year's devastating car crash, the 46-year-old looked visibly uncomfortable on the green. He even had a triple bogey on the sixth hole.

Woods recorded five consecutive bogeys for just the second time in his career, the other time coming in the first round of the 1996 U.S. Open. He managed to finish under one on his final five holes to break 80. Still, a nine-over 79 was the worst round of his storied career at the PGA Championship. It's also the third-worst round of his major career and the fifth-worst round of his professional career overall.

Tiger Woods posts his highest career round at the PGA Championship with a 79.

He went -1 on his final 4 holes to break 80. pic.twitter.com/YhQsXuIWXd

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 21, 2022

After the round, Woods admitted that his surgically repaired leg has been in pain. He said he will have to assess whether he plays the final 18 holes.

"Well, I'm sore. I know that is for a fact," Woods said. "We'll do some work and see how it goes."

Woods later withdrew from the competition:

#Tiger has withdrawn via PGA of America

— Bob Harig (@BobHarig) May 21, 2022

The final round of the PGA Championship will commence Sunday at 8 a.m. ET. Coverage will start on ESPN+ and then get picked up by ESPN at 10 a.m. ET before finishing on CBS at 1 p.m. ET.

Tiger Woods withdrew from the 2022 PGA Championship following the third round of the tournament Saturday.

The 15-time major champion acknowledged before withdrawing that he might not compete in the final round Sunday because of pain in his surgically repaired right leg.

"I'm sore. I know that is for a fact," he said. "We'll do some work and see how it goes."

In his first event since a car crash in February 2021, Woods started well at the Masters but looked worse as the tournament unfolded.

At Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the struggles started at the outset. He carded a four-over 74 in the first round, after which he said his leg was giving him trouble.

"I just can't load it," Woods told reporters. "Loading hurts, pressing off it hurts, walking hurts, and twisting hurts. It's just golf. I don't play that—if I don't do that—then I'm all right."

A one-under 69 in the second round helped him make the cut before he endured his worst round ever in the PGA Championship. He couldn't reach the green on the 218-yard par-three sixth hole, finding the water with his tee shot en route to a double bogey. At one point, he bogeyed five straight holes as well.

A birdie on No. 15 provided little respite.

After battling through a tough round, Tiger Woods picks up his first birdie of the day. pic.twitter.com/XYMVFfcSKj

— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) May 21, 2022

When the dust settled, Woods had finished nine over and was in a tie for last at 12 over.

The fact he was so far down the leaderboard might have made the decision easier for the 46-year-old.

This will cast doubt on Woods' status for the U.S. Open, which will tee off June 16 in Brookline, Massachusetts. Though he has filed to enter the event, that's no guarantee.