What the Woods-McIlroy partnership means for the future

Jul 14, 2022; St. Andrews, SCT; Tiger Woods before teeing off on the fourth hole during the first round of the 150th Open Championship golf tournament at St. Andrews Old Course. Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

What the Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy partnership means for the PGA Tour's future

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 8/22/22

In addition to being friends both on and off the links, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have also become the biggest -- or, at least the most vocal -- defenders of the PGA Tour as the feud with the breakaway LIV Golf Invitational continues.

The pro golfers are taking that alliance a step further, with reports surfacing over the weekend that the duo is pitching a plan to add a series of one-off competitions in a "non-green grass, stadium environment" starting during the 2024 PGA season.

"Multiple sources say a series of events will be held in partnership with the PGA Tour and that more specifics could be announced by Commissioner Jay Monahan this week at the Tour Championship," Golf Week reported on Sunday.

The PGA Tour's top players, led by Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, have finalized a proposal that would "dramatically reshape" the Tour, per @NoLayingUp.

It would create an elevated series of limited field events and will be sent to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan this week. pic.twitter.com/n8rJ6TcyaX
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) August 22, 2022

While exact details about these events have not been released, the message Woods and McIlory are sending to the rest of the sports world is already pretty clear. Despite the PGA Tour's effort to adjust the tour schedule and elevate purses for next season, the dynamic duo is going the extra mile to combat LIV Golf and players who defect to the Saudi Arabia-backed league.

It also hints that Woods won't be retiring any time soon. The 15-time major champion remains adamant he isn't stepping away from the game despite playing in a limited number of events in his return from a major car accident in 2021. Between spearheading a meeting with the PGA's top players last week and this new venture with McIlroy, it looks like Woods will remain very much at the forefront of the golf world even if he isn't competing as much.

As for McIlroy, he has an end-of-the-season championship to fight for. The Irishman is part of the 30-man field heading into next weekend's Tour Championship. It's been a rocky playoffs for McIlroy, who missed the cut at the FedEx St. Jude Championship and tied for eighth last weekend at the BMW Championship.

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