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Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are spearheading a brand new enterprise that can have the world’s high golfers competing in opposition to one another in a non-green grass, stadium setting, Golfweek has discovered. A number of sources say a sequence of occasions shall be held in partnership with the PGA Tour and that extra specifics could possibly be introduced by Commissioner Jay Monahan this week on the Tour Championship.
The one-day occasions are designed to enhance the PGA Tour schedule and can launch in 2024, in accordance with a number of sources aware of the idea. Early pondering suggests the showdowns — which shall be technology-forward and staged with a stay viewers — might run January by March, with a finale held later. Discussions about broadcast and gaming companions are underway. A supply at NBC Sports activities says the community has an choice to be the media companion within the enterprise.
Particulars concerning the plan had been shared with Tour members who attended the players-only assembly held on August 16 in the course of the BMW Championship, for which Woods made a particular journey from his house in Florida. It was offered as a long-term alternative for gamers to construct fairness within the enterprise, which may have non-public funding along with company partnerships and sponsors. The proposal was acquired positively amongst gamers within the room, in accordance with a supply aware of the dialog.
Woods and McIlroy started engaged on the undertaking greater than two years in the past, a collaboration that mates say has introduced them nearer. That in the end spurred the 2 superstars to return collectively to rally fellow gamers behind the PGA Tour within the face of the risk posed by LIV Golf. They’ve been among the many most outspoken critics of the Saudi-funded league.
Woods and McIlroy organized an off-the-cuff assembly of gamers to debate countering LIV Golf throughout final month’s J.P. McManus Professional-Am at Adare Manor in Eire. On the follow-up assembly held in Wilmington final week, extra concrete plans on find out how to enhance and innovate the Tour’s product had been offered to a bigger group of gamers. Twenty-two of the sport’s greatest stars had been within the room. A few of these proposals — together with schedule modifications that might guarantee high gamers compete in opposition to one another extra typically — at the moment are on the desk of Monahan. The brand new digital undertaking led by Woods and McIlroy has already gained the commissioner’s buy-in, a number of sources instructed Golfweek.
Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods in the course of the R&A Celebration of Champions four-hole problem on the a hundred and fiftieth Open Championship golf match at St. Andrews Previous Course. (Photograph by Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports activities)
Whereas specifics on the undertaking have remained a closely-guarded secret, extra data is anticipated to be made public within the coming days on the Tour Championship, together with particulars on the format, potential individuals, the experiential components and the deliberate location of the occasions.
A PGA Tour spokesperson declined to touch upon any issues Monahan may deal with in his press convention, scheduled for Tuesday at East Lake Golf Membership.
