Tiger Woods could have a huge impact on the future of golf as one the player directors on the PGA Tour board.
Tiger Woods is being encouraged by both Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott to meet with LIV chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan to thrash out peace talks in golf’s civil war.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan gave little away earlier this week when asked for a progress report on negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
The framework agreement that was reached last summer was originally set to be finalised at the end of December, but US congress then got involved before the PGA Tour accepted an investment worth around £2.4billion from an American consortium.
That deal led to Woods questioning whether further investment from Saudi Arabia would be needed financially.
Tiger Woods is one of six members of the PGA Tour player directors..GETTY
Speaking at the Genesis Invitational last month, Woods admitted he was yet to meet with PIF governor Al-Rumayyan.
It’s been suggested during the Players Championship that Al-Rumayyan would be willing to sit down with the PGA Tour representatives in the near future.
And Scott, who is one of six PGA Tour player directors along with Woods, feels now is the time to hold face-to-face talks with the Saudi chief.
“Ultimately the players are some of the vote going into whether a deal will happen or not, just like it was with SSG,” Scott said.
“With the seriousness of what we’re voting on, I think it is important that we’ve all met no matter what anyone’s feelings are.
“If the PIF thinks it’s beneficial that we meet, as far as getting on with business, yeah, let’s get on with it.
“I would like to resolve this no matter what the outcome is. And we can all move on.”
Spieth is also on the board and claimed the players are ‘being encouraged to meet’ with the LIV backers.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan is willing to meet with PGA Tour players..GETTY
And he echoed Scott’s sentiments that all six player directors – including Woods without naming him – should take up the chance to hold discussions.
“We probably feel like our membership should know timing and what could happen and just in general maybe it’s just a meet — I think there’s not a whole lot more I can say about that, but we are being encouraged obviously which I think is probably a good thing that the entire board should if there’s going to be any potential for a negotiation,” he said.
Tiger Woods has suggested the PGA Tour don’t need PIF’s finances..GETTY
Peter Malnati added: “It is essential.
“I think there are players who have resistance to that relationship [between the PGA Tour and PIF], for sure.
“So that’s why I do think it’s important that our next step is to meet.”