Golfweek learned that Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are leading a new venture which will see the top golfers in the world compete against each other in an arena without green grass. Multiple sources claim that a series will be held in partnership by the PGA Tour. Commissioner Jay Monahan could announce more details at the Tour Championship.
Multiple sources claim that the one-day events will be launched in 2024 to complement the PGA Tour schedule. The showdowns, which will be tech-forward and staged live with an audience, could take place in January to March with a final. Talks are ongoing about potential broadcast and gaming partners. According to NBC Sports, the network is open to the possibility of being a media partner in the venture.
Tour members were given details about the plan at the players-only meeting that was held during the BMW Championship on August 16. Woods traveled from Florida to share the information with them. The plan was presented to players as a long-term opportunity to build equity in the enterprise. It will also have corporate partnerships and sponsors. According to a source familiar, the proposal was accepted by the players.
Woods and McIlroy started working together on the project over two years ago. Friends say it has brought them closer. The two stars came together to rally other players behind the PGA Tour against the threat posed LIV Golf. They were vocal critics of the Saudi-funded league.
Woods and McIlroy organized an informal meeting with players to discuss LIV Golf’s potential threat during last month’s J.P. McManus Pro-Am at Adare Manor, Ireland. A larger audience was presented with more concrete plans to improve the Tour’s product at the Wilmington follow-up meeting last week. 22 of the most prominent players in the game were present at the meeting. Monahan has some of these proposals, including changes to the schedule that would allow top players to compete against one another more often. Multiple sources have confirmed that McIlroy and Woods have already bought in to the new digital project.
Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and the R&A Celebration of Champions four hole challenge at the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews Old Course. (Photo by Rob Schumacher/USA Today Sports)
Although details of the project remain a closely guarded secret, more information about the format, participants and experiential elements, as well as the location, will be released by the Tour Championship in the coming days.
Monahan’s press conference at East Lake Golf Club on Tuesday, April 12, was not scheduled to be covered by a spokesperson for the PGA Tour.
By: Eamon Lynch
Title: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy to launch technology-driven competition series for top stars with PGA Tour
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2022/08/21/tiger-woods-rory-mcilroy-pga-tour-new-technology-driven-series/
Published Date: Sun, 21 Aug 2022 20:09:43 +0000
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