Tiger Woods returns to competitive golf at the Genesis Invitational he hosts next week but has still yet to announce a new apparel partner after parting ways with Nike
Tiger Woods has seemingly confirmed the identity of his new sponsors after sharing a photo on social media that unintentionally shows their logo.
Woods, 48, and Nike ended their 27-year partnership earlier this year following the expiry of his final contract with the American apparel brand. More than a month later, the 15-time major champion has yet to announce a new endorsement deal.
That will have to change as Woods returns to competitive golf next week at the Genesis Invitational, which he is hosting at the Riviera Golf Course in Los Angeles on behalf of the Tiger Woods Foundation. The long-time world No. 1 is also teasing February 12, a day before the tournament’s opening round, for an announcement.
“The vision remains the same,” he posted Tuesday on X, formerly known as Twitter, alongside that date. The attached photo showed a close-up of Woods’ left eye beneath the brow of a black cap as light shines onto his brown iris. Saturday has seen him share a similarly cryptic post.
“A new day rises,” is the caption as Woods looks down to the ground while wearing another black cap in the accompanying image. But this time, the photo is a three-quarter length headshot showing him in a red unbranded polo shirt and dark-coloured trousers.
Also visible is the top of a golf club held in his gloved right hand. A spotlight is shining on the white glove with black detailing.
A ‘Sunday Red’ logo is seemingly visible on the glove (
Image:
@TigerWoods)
Upon closer inspection, what appears to be a leaping tiger depicted in the ‘Sunday Red’ logos trademarked by TaylorMade last month. What looks very much like the tiger’s hind legs from the logo appears in black in the centre of a separate panel atop the glove
However, the position of his hand in the photo obscures the rest of the glove. Despite not being definite confirmation, it is the clearest sign that ‘Sunday Red’ will be Woods’ apparel line debuting at the Genesis next week.
The name comes from the red-coloured clothing Woods famously wears for final rounds of events on Sundays. He also already has a preexisting six-year association with TaylorMade after using the brand’s clubs for the last six years, ever since Nike stopped producing
The foremost of Woods’ teasers was the first time he had posted on X since announcing his departure from Nike. “Over 27 years ago, I was fortunate to start a partnership with one of the most iconic brands in the world,” he wrote.
“The days since have been filled with so many amazing. [Former Nike CEO] Phil Knight’s passion and vision brought this Nike and Nike Golf partnership together, and I want to personally thank him, along with the Nike employees and incredible athletes I have had the pleasure of working with along the way.
“People will ask if there is another chapter. Yes, there will certainly be another chapter.”
John W Henry’s ambition in the sporting world continues to show no borders as the American shook hands on a $1.5bn investment deal with the PGA Tour.
Joining forces with Arthur Blank (owner of Atlanta Falcons), Wyc Grousbeck (owner of Boston Celtics) and Steve Cohen (owner of New York Mets), the consortium’s (Strategic Sports Group) investment could grow up to $3bn.
It’s a move welcomed by legendary golf player Tiger Woods who released a joint statement along with his fellow PGA Tour player directors: “It was incredibly important for us to create opportunities for the players of today and in the future to be more invested in their organisation, both financially and strategically.
“This not only further strengthens the tour from a business perspective, but it also encourages the players to be fully invested in continuing to deliver – and further enhance – the best in golf to our fans.
“We are looking forward to this next chapter and an even brighter future.”
As Henry looks to further grow his empire, Fenway Sports Group are actively making efforts to preserve what already exists in their realm.
The American group have already brought former Red Sox GM Theo Epstein back into the fold to help assist with their decision-making moving forward.
Tiger Woods’s fall from grace after the 2010 divorce has always cast a dark shadow on his life. In his book Unprecedented, The Masters and Me, Woods also said that his “regret will last a lifetime.” Before the sudden fall in 2010, Woods was enjoying his too-good-to-be-true life with Elin Nordegren and his children.
via Getty
The two had met nearly a decade before their marriage, but the start of their relationship was not as sweet as people might have expected. It wasn’t all sunshine and roses for the former couple at first as Nordegren showed Woods a cold shoulder on his initial approach.
Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren endured a rocky start to the relationship
Tiger Woods met Elin Nordegren in 2001. At that time, Woods was a rising star on the PGA Tour and held the claim of being a generational talent. He met Nordegren through Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik. Nordegeren was a nanny for Parnevik’s children and at the 2001 British Open, the two were introduced. Initially, when Woods approached Nordegren, the Swedish model was apprehensive of Woods’s proposal to start dating. As per friend, Sobieraj Westfall, Nordegren did not find it ideal to join the celeb circle. In the 2021 HBO documentary ‘Tiger’, Westfall said, “She had her opinions about celebrities and they were not high. And she’s very shy, so the idea of joining that world was not appealing to her.”
As a result, at first, the former model rejected Woods’ advances. “When he asked her out, I think she turned him down at first,” said Westfall.
However, as time passed by, Nordegren was gradually convinced and gave Woods a chance, they eventually started going out.
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After dating for a while, the two got engaged in November 2003, and a year later in October, they tied the knot in Barbados. The couple had been married for six years when Woods’s infidelity allegation was made public. Following this, the two eventually parted ways in 2010.
Nordegren was reported to have received $100 million in settlement. It’s been 13 years since their divorce, and even after the tumultuous relationship the pair shared, it seems the sour feelings are no more.
Woods’ and Nordegren’s relationship has taken a turn for the better after the divorce
On the eve of his 40th birthday, Tiger Woods revealed how far he and Nordegren had come in their relationship. Giving an exclusive interview with Time Magazine, Woods claimed that their relationship was “fantastic” now. The two were again on talking terms.
Moreover, the champ said, “She’s one of my best friends. We’re able to pick up the phone, and we talk to each other all the time.” The sudden change in their relationship could be attributed to their children. The revered golfer and his ex-wife share two children. For their future, the parents had decided to cordially co-parent.
It has been more than a decade since their divorce, and their relationship as friends has grown stronger than ever. Given that at the 2022 PNC Championship, Woods alongside their son, Charlie Woods, congratulated Nordegren on the birth of her third child. The two are now living separately and peacefully.
Tiger Woods has a net worth of $1.1 billion, as per Forbes. Not only does this make him the first billionaire golfer in history, but it also makes him one of the very few billionaire athletes in the world. Woods undoubtedly owes his high value to his being a savvy businessman and his valuable endorsements.
Woods owes a lot of his wealth to his partnerships and sponsors. One of his most famous and valuable endorsement deals was with Nike, which came to an end after a 27-year partnership that began in 1996. Additionally, the golf pro is sponsored by big names like Bridgestone, Monster Energy, Rolex, and TaylorMade. The golf pro made $60 million in endorsements alone in 2023.
via Reuters
Woods has a sizable portion of his investments put into real estate. One of the most expensive of those investments is his house on Jupiter Island in Florida. In 2006, he spent a whopping $40 million on the property. But that wasn’t the end of it at all! He further went on to construct his $54 million mansion on the property.
Woods also bought both his parents’ houses. In 2007, he spent $2.4 million to buy two plots of land in Jupiter, Florida, for his mother. As per public records, in 2010, a $1.31 million home in Windermere, Florida, was listed under Tiger and Earl’s names.
Tiger Woods’s Early Life
Woods was born on December 30, 1975, in Cypress, California. Named Eldrick Tont Woods at birth, he now goes by his widely popular nickname, “Tiger,” which was given to him by his father, Earl Woods, in honor of one of his close army buddies.
From a very young age, Woods began taking a liking to the sport. He became interested in golf at the age of six months after watching his father hit golf balls into a net and imitate his swing. His skills with a club were amazing, and at a very young age, he began being called a golf prodigy.
By the time Woods had reached the age of 2, he had become quite fluid with the game and even showcased his talent by putting alongside the American comedian, Bob Hope, on the Mike Douglas Show. One year later, while regular kids were playing with blocks, Woods shot a low score of 48 across nine holes. At the age of four, Woods flaunted his skills out of a bunker in a short game against a 16-year-old and beat him by four strokes. He was featured in Golf Digest as a 5-year-old, where his abilities were lauded.
via Imago
Tiger’s father, Earl, was his inspiration to play the sport and was also the one who taught him how to play the game. His first official coach, on the other hand, was Rudy Duran, who began training him at the age of four and continued to do so for six years.
In 1994, Tiger Woods attended Stanford University for two years and pursued a degree in economics. He turned pro in 1996, taking his first steps toward becoming the golf legend that he’s now known as.
Tiger Woods’s Family and His Kids
Tiger is the son of Earl Woods and Kultida Woods. Although he was born an American citizen, Woods’s heritage is part African-American, owing to his father, and part Thai, owing to the fact that his mother is from Thailand. The couple were married for 37 years until Earl sadly passed away at the age of 74 in 2006.
via Imago
Woods is the only child of Earl and Kultida. But his father had three other children before he was born. Earl Jr. was Woods’ eldest half-sibling and was born in 1955. He is 20 years older than Tiger. Woods has another elder half-brother, Kevin Dale Woods, who is 18 years older than he is and was born in 1957. His third half-sibling is his half-sister, Royce Renee Woods, who was born in 1961.
Woods himself has two children, both with his now ex-wife, Elin Nordegren. His firstborn is their daughter, Sam Alexis Woods, who was born on June 18, 2007. Charlie Axel Woods, her brother and Woods and Elin’s second child, was born on February 8, 2009.
Tiger Woods’s Dating History
In 2001, Woods first met his then-wife-to-be, Elin Nordegren, a former model. The couple dated for a while before getting engaged in November 2003. Less than a year later, in October 2004, the couple tied the knot and were married in Barbados in an intricate ceremony. A little over five years later, they went through a very public and scandalous divorce.
via Getty
Woods met Rachael Uchitel in 2008. A year later, the two began seeing each other. Allegedly, Uchitel and Woods were seeing each other before his split with his wife, Elin.
Following his messy marriage, Woods started afresh with the American Alpine Olympic skier, Lindsey Vonn. The two made an attractive athlete-power couple. They met in 2012 and began dating soon after. In May 2015, the pair split up due to their hectic athletic lifestyles.
Woods also dated Erica Herman, the former general manager of his restaurant, the Woods Jupiter. The two first made their relationship public in 2017 when she wore a player’s spouse credential at the President’s Cup. The pair broke up in 2023. Following their breakup, Herman also filed a lawsuit against Woods to revoke the non-disclosure agreement she signed when the couple initially started dating. Herman cited the Speak Out Act in her lawsuit, which permits the nullification of NDAs in cases of sexual assault or harassment. However, she later dropped the lawsuit.
Tiger Woods’s Awards and Achievements
Woods has one of the most incredible careers in golf’s history. Having turned pro in August 1996, he straight away began playing on the PGA Tour. Two months into his professional debut, he won his first Tour event, the Las Vegas Invitational, in October. Since then, the golf pro has gone on to win 82 times, the most any player has ever won. He shares this record with Sam Snead.
Less than a year after turning pro, Tiger Woods won his first major championship at Augusta in April 1997 at the Masters. He has gone on to win a total of 15 major championships, second only to Jack Nicklaus, who has won 18 throughout his career, a record Woods is certainly gunning for. Woods won his 15th major at the Masters in 2019.
via Getty
Woods is quite certainly one of the most accomplished golfers of all time. In terms of numbers, the golf pro has to date gotten his hands on 5 Masters titles, 3 US Open titles, 4 PGA Championship titles, and 3 Open Championships.
The PGA Tour star also holds the record for the most amount of time spent as World No. 1 at 683 weeks (just over 13 years). Through strong resolve, tons of training, and rigorous hard work, the golf pro had earned the legend tag for himself.
Tiger Woods Documentary
All the avid Woods fans eager to find out more about the golfer will be pleased to know that the golf legend has a documentary. Tiger, an HBO sports-biography documentary, aired in 2021. It focuses on his steady rise and abrupt drop, and then his comeback to the sport.
The documentary also explores Woods’ relationship with his father and the effect his divorce had on his career. Fans can watch the biography, which is split into two episodes, on HBO Max.
Tiger Woods’s Car Accidents
Woods has suffered a dark fate when it comes to accidents. He has been involved in three separate car accidents, each life-threatening. The first came in 2009, when the golf pro lost control of his SUV and crashed it into a fire hydrant, soon after pulling out of the driveway of his Florida mansion. He was knocked out and lost consciousness for nearly 6 minutes. His injuries from the accident had been described as “serious.”
Eight years later, in 2017, the golf legend was arrested in Florida for DUI. The police had found him passed out behind the wheel of his Mercedes-Benz. There seemed to have been a minor accident before the cops found him.
In February 2021, Woods was yet again involved in a car accident. Due to a speed crash, his car had flown off the road. He was the only party involved in the accident. The golf pro suffered multiple injuries to his right leg and ankle and sustained injuries to his back. He went through multiple surgeries for his leg injuries and has not yet fully recovered from them. Yet the PGA Tour star found the resolve to compete in major championships in 2022.
Woods’s health struggles continued as he withdrew from the Masters in April 2023 due to a re-aggravation of his plantar fasciitis. After nearly an eight-month-long hiatus, the 82-time PGA Tour winner made a comeback at the Hero World Challenge in December 2023.
The Tiger Woods Foundation, Charity Work, and Philanthropy
Tiger and his father, Earl, started the TGR Foundation back in 1996. It was first set out with the goal of helping children play the sport. But 27 years later, the foundation now aims to educate children on all fronts. They offer college and career programs to students and have, to date, helped turn around more than 2 million students’ lives. They further have one of the highest graduation rates among scholarship programs in the country, at 98%.
The Woods Foundation additionally hosts charity events and sponsors golf events on the PGA Tour to raise money for various charitable ventures. The most popular tournaments among them are the Genesis Invitational and the Hero World Challenge.
Golf is the winner when it comes to the top 10 highest paid athletes of all time as four golfers including Tiger Woods have made it onto Sportico’s latest list as of 2024.
According to Sportico, their list is measured in inflation-adjusted earnings of sporting stars past and present based on their value.
Three golfers inc. Tiger Woods in top five of highest paid athletes of all time
NBA legend Michael Jordan is the runaway winner on $3.3 billion, with 15-time major champion Tiger Woods a clear second on $2.5 billion.
What is Tiger Woods’ net worth in 2024?
After retiring from basketball in April 2003 aged 40, Jordan went on to make huge money as an entrepreneur. His Air Jordan brand, in collaboration with Nike, brings in around £1 billion a year in sales.
Jordan shoes are widely available in a range of different sports, including golf.
The latest shoe from the Jordan range caught our attention this week in the shape of the new Jordan 1 Golf Mule, which some golf fans have commented “look like slippers”.
Woods confirmed on 8 January 2024 that he had left Nike after 27 years together. The former World No.1 posted an emotional statement following his exit from Nike.
Tiger’s next apparel brand gets leaked
Woods’ actual net worthas of 2024 is estimated to be $1.1 billion.
Two more PGA Tour legends in Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus follow Woods in third and fourth spots on $1.7 billion and $1.63 billion respectively. Those numbers, as we say, are inflation-adjusted earnings.
Late great Palmer, who won seven major titles from 1958 to 1964, was seen as golf’s trailblazer as he became the first superstar of the sport’s television age in the 50s, while Nicklaus is a record 18-time major winner.
Former Manchester United and Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo is tucked in close behind on the latest list with $1.58 billion.
Ronaldo made the decision to move to Saudi Arabia and play for Al Nassr last season.
NBA hero LeBron James is hot on Ronaldo’s heels with $1.53 billion, while Ronaldo’s arch rival in the GOAT debate, Lionel Messi, is in seventh place on $1.48 billion.
Four golfers in top 10 of highest paid athletes of all time
Rounding out the top 10 are boxing star Floyd Mayweather ($1.41 billion), tennis ace Roger Federer ($1.38 billion) and six-time major champion Phil Mickelson ($1.36 billion).
Golf legend Mickelson has spent the majority of his career on the PGA Tour but he made the controversial switch to join the LIV Golf League in 2022.
It is estimated Mickelson accepted a signing fee of $200m to join the Saudi-bankrolled golf league back then.
Jon Rahm became the highest paid LIV Golf player of all time when he accepted in the region of $600m to join the circuit ahead of the 2024 season, but the Spaniard is nowhere near the top 10 on the all-time list.
Top 10 highest paid athletes of all time
Results according to Sportico – learn more about the results here
TOP 10 HIGHEST PAID ATHLETES OF ALL TIME (2024)
RANK
NAME
SPORT
TOTAL MONEY
1
MICHAEL JORDAN
BASKETBALL
$3.3 BILLION
2
TIGER WOODS
GOLF
$2.5 BILLION
3
ARNOLD PALMER
GOLF
$1.7 BILLION
4
JACK NICKLAUS
GOLF
$1.63 BILLION
5
CRISTIANO RONALDO
FOOTBALL
$1.58 BILLION
6
LEBRON JAMES
BASKETBALL
$1.53 BILLION
7
LIONEL MESSI
FOOTBALL
$1.48 BILLION
8
FLOYD MAYWEATHER
BOXING
$1.41 BILLION
9
ROGER FEDERER
TENNIS
$1.38 BILLION
10
PHIL MICKELSON
GOLF
$1.36 BILLION
What do you make of these results? Are you shocked four golfers are in the top 10 of all time, according to Sportico? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.
Apart from his unparalleled hooping skills, Michael Jordan changed the game through personal branding and making key investments during and post his hooping career. Adjusting his career earnings through inflation, his $3.3 billion earnings eclipse any other sporting personality in history. In a post shared by Boardroom, Jordan stood at the top of the stack of top-five athletes in terms of their career earnings.
October 6, 2009; San Francisco, CA, USA; USA Team member Tiger Woods (USA), left, and honorary captain Michael Jordan, right, follows a tee shot on the 11th hole during the practice round of the President’s Cup golf tournament at Harding Park Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The post is captioned,
“Since he was drafted in 1984, MJ has earned an estimated $3.3 billion when adjusted for inflation — more than any other athlete in history.”
This list is based on an article by Sportico which puts Jordan’s $3.3 billion earnings at the top, around $800 million ahead of Tiger Woods, when adjusted for inflation. This is an important distinction considering a decent sum of MJ’s earnings came from mid 1980s to mid 2000s. If we take into account his non-inflation earnings, even then Jordan clears Woods by a significant margin.
He has accumulated $2.37 billion if we exclude inflation which is still around $600 million over Woods. While much of Jordan’s wealth has come after retirement, Woods is still active and stands at the top of active athletes with the most earnings. If we go back to the inflation-adjusted numbers, the prolific golfer has more than a billion dollars in earnings compared to generational soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
At any rate, Jordan’s incredible increase in net worth is also a result of his NBA ownership bid which multiplied his wealth significantly post-retirement. The NBA legend continues to make extraordinary business decisions.
Michael Jordan earned a lot through his Hornets’ ownership
In 2023, MJ stunned a lot of people when he decided to sell his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets. After being a minority owner since 2006, MJ decided to buy majority stakes of Hornets (then Bobcats) in 2010 for $180 million. Last year, when he decided to sell these stakes, he had made approximately $2 billion in profits. This has given a significant boost to his net worth.
Although he has probably racked up more than $1 billion just through his long-term investments in Gatorade and Nike, it doesn’t compare to his Hornets’ majority sale alone. Now that his net worth has jumped over $3 billion, he has joined an exclusive club. He became the first athlete to join the Forbes 400 list. Now, he is among the 400 richest individuals in the US, ey another feat for the basketball legend.
The end of a 27-year-long partnership! The golf world has been able to witness an iconic collaboration between the likes of Tiger Woods and Nike ever since they joined hands in 1996. But their split, a little while back, does throw a little bit of shade in what was otherwise a perfect alliance. Well, now it appears they have managed to suffer yet another insult to their legacy, courtesy of Nick Dunlap.
USA Today via Reuters
The golfer is currently setting himself up for a win at the 2024 American Express as an amateur. However, while doing so, reports have emerged about a deal that the athlete has with a certain brand, all the while speculating an even better relationship than the Woods-Swoosh tie-up!
A slap in the face for Tiger Woods and Nike?
A tweet was shared by Josh Carpenter on his X handle (formerly known as Twitter) mentioning how Dunlap had supposedly bagged “a NIL deal with Adidas.” The reported partnership is said to have started last year, before the athlete won his U.S. Amateur Championship title in August.
However, as per reports, following the victory at the Cherry Hills Country Club and Colorado Golf Club, the “brand restructured the deal to be head to toe” as opposed to using just his name, image, and likeness (NIL) through marketing. Well, these speculations come off as a subtle jab for the legend and his split partnership with the Swoosh since both of them entered into a deal during the 15-time major champ’s pro entry. Meanwhile, the deal Adidas is reported to have with the 20-year-old started when he was just an amateur (which he still is, by the way). Nothing shy of a poke at their legacy.
Nevertheless, if the golfer does emerge victorious at the 2024 American Express, it would prove to be history in the making. Moreover, he would become the first athlete after Phil Mickelson in 1991 to win an event on the PGA Tour as an amateur, a feat nobody has achieved in over 30 years. There seems to be more good news on the way for the Adidas-Dunlap alliance.
Nick Dunlap had an NIL deal with Adidas prior to winning the US Amateur last year.
The brand restructured the deal to be head to toe following that win.
Dunlap is looking to be the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1991 tomorrow pic.twitter.com/EwA4gR6URv
— Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter) January 20, 2024
Well, it’s not the first time that the news of the exit was met with a snub of sorts. However, this one came from none other than the Swoosh themselves, as they went ahead to delete the 82-time PGA Tour champ from its Nike Tiger Woods page. A journalist, Robert Lusetich, revealed the same while hinting at the success of the longstanding partnership.
The headlines of the golf world sure were abuzz with the news of their exit, following the legend’s choice of using FootJoy at the greens last year and his post on social media indicating the split. Nevertheless, it truly was one of the most successful partnerships that the golf world, or even the sports realm, has ever seen. Although the amateur was reportedly able to one-up Mr.T, one can only wait and see whether the duo will be able to pull off a successful partnership like the pro had with Nike!
Cheyenne Woods may have taken time off from active golf owing to her two pregnancies, but her love for the game remains eternal. The half-niece of the legendary golfer Tiger Woods has gone through many personal changes in the last few years.
Married to Aaron Hicks, the golfer was already blessed with a son, Cameron, in 2022. Then last year, she welcomed her second child, a daughter, Maya Nicole Hicks, in October. Now, months after recovering from childbirth, the 33-year-old golfer spoke about it all: motherhood, her children, and her love for golf!
via Imago
Cheyenne Woods goes candid about motherhood and missing the LPGA Tour
Recently, Woods sat down for a candid interview with Golf Week USA, where she talked about her motherhood journey and how much she misses golf. She said, “I do miss Tour golf.” The golfer opened up about not missing the travel that she used to engage in while on the Tour; instead, she missed the competition. “I don’t necessarily miss the travel, but I do miss the competition,” said Cheyenne Woods. Talking about what she does while she misses the sport, she said, “I watch a lot of golf. I watch more now than I probably ever have.”
Talking about her son Cameron, who is a 20-month-old son now, she said that he loves to play both the sports of his parents. My son loves watching golf; it’s crazy. He’s really getting into playing baseball as well. I would love for my kids to eventually be able to see what mom can do and what mom used to do.” The last time Woods enjoyed playing golf was five days before she went into labor with Maya.
She also explained that while she loves golf, traveling for competitions made it difficult for her to spend time with her family. Now that she is not competing at the moment, she loves waking up next to her children and feeding them. She prioritizes family above everything else. “Our family is really what’s most important to me in terms of priority,” she added.
Apart from the happiness of having two children, the LPGA golfer also had the misfortune of losing her brother in 2022, a loss that continues to hurt her. All these have changed her perspective on life, and she wants more time with her family. And though she didn’t share any details about her comeback on the tour, someone from her family is playing in the field this week.
Woods’s husband, Aaron Hicks, is a part of the HGV Tournament of Champions
Her husband, Aaron Hicks, is part of the celebrity group at the HGV Tournament of Champions this week. About the game this week, Hicks said, “to feel that adrenaline that goes through you when you tee off on the first hole and finishing up on the last hole. It’s always fun to have that feeling.” Hicks himself used to play golf in the early days then he switched to baseball. But he praises his wife for helping with his golf form.
As for now, Woods did not seem to express any desire to make an official comeback. But she expressed that she would love to try to play in another U.S. Women’s Open in the future.
Tiger Woods thinks “there’s too much at stake to think about a Ryder Cup.”
The PGA Tour has reached a critical juncture and Woods, a new addition to the circuit’s Policy Board, has stressed that he is too focused on finalising a deal with LIV Golf’s Saudi backers to start plotting revenge on the Europeans at Bethpage in 2025.
But while the Team USA captaincy seat remains unfilled and Woods remains coy, speculation will only intensify over his potential involvement.
Phil Mickelson has ruled himself out of the captaincy running on the grounds he is a “very divisive character”, while former vice-captain Stewart Cink admits his fate rests in Woods’ hands.
“I do want to be the captain and think I can be,” Cink said recently. “But with all due respect to Tiger Woods, I think it’s up to him.”
Whilst mounting his own comeback, Woods is now set to decide whether he should lead the Stars and Stripes in New York next year, or take on the ultimate challenge of winning away at Adare Manor in 2027.
Hunter Mahan, meanwhile, is utterly convinced that the 15-time major winner is the man to rise to both occasions.
“They should roll with Tiger for the next two and let it be a four-year commitment,” Mahan told bunkered.co.uk.
“You’re not too worried about the next one, being at home. The home ones are kind of easy because of the emotion and the crowd is on your side. The one in Ireland is going to be brutal. It’s not going to be the next one you’re worried about.
“I know players love Stewart [Cink] and said he was incredible in the team room so I could see him getting it – but I would have to roll with Tiger.”
Woods, of course, has a famously poor record in the Ryder Cup. In eight matches as a player, he has finished on the winning side just once – at Brookline in 1999.
As a result, some have expressed concern that Woods wouldn’t be a shrewd choice by the PGA of America to take on Luke Donald’s revitalised Europe, especially with the 48-year-old attempting yet another revival on the fairways.
But Mahan believes Woods the captain has the ideal skillset to lead the US team to back-to-back Ryder Cup triumphs for what would be the first time in 34 years.
“Tiger’s a great leader in his own way,” Mahan explained. “You’ve seen it in the Presidents Cup. With Tiger being in the leadership role, he’s a completely different animal. He has this military background which is all about groups and subsets.
“He would plan this thing all out and his preparation for everything would be off the charts so that when guys get there and the tournament rolls around, they would have plan. He’s going to have everything situated in a way that nobody’s really seen before.
“He’s going to be beyond prepared and learn from the past mistakes. You have to treat it differently, it’s night and day being at home and being on the road.”
Losing captain Zach Johnson faced huge scrutiny after his side’s 16-12 defeat at Marco Simone, and Mahan hinted that the grave errors made under the two-time major champion’s leadership may not have happened under Woods’ watch.
“Zach is an A+ human being in every way and everyone on the team would say that. But it’s very clear that the job can overwhelm you and it can just get away from you really quickly,” he said.
“There were too many cooks in the kitchen. There were so many assistants scrambling to figure out what to do. There has to be an alpha, but it felt like there were six alphas.
“If you just think it’s about those three days and that ‘we just got outplayed and outputted’ – give me a break, you don’t understand what’s happening. You don’t understand what’s going on.
“Europe were so well prepared and everyone on that team played that golf course multiple times. No-one in the US did. No one did anything, their preparation was really bad. Everything felt like an afterthought.”
LOS ANGELES – Tournament host Tiger Woods has announced Chase Johnson as the recipient of the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption into the 2024 Genesis Invitational. Johnson will join the field Feb. 15-18 at The Riviera Country Club. Awarded annually since 2009, the Sifford exemption represents the advancement of diversity in the game of golf.
“Chase earned the 2024 Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption with his play over the past year,” Woods said. “He let his game speak for itself, and that is something I know Charlie would be proud of.”
Last year was a banner season for Johnson, with significant accomplishments on the PGA TOUR, Korn Ferry Tour and the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Tour. Johnson is looking to keep his momentum going this year.
“I am beyond excited to receive the Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption and to play in The Genesis Invitational,” Johnson said. “Tiger has been an inspiration to me, and I look forward to putting my game to the test at Riviera and playing in honor of Mr. Sifford.”
In June 2023, Johnson won The John Shippen Invitational earning a start the following week in the PGA TOUR’s Detroit stop, the Rocket Mortgage Classic. It was Johnson’s second career start on the PGA TOUR and his first made cut. In addition to his start in Detroit, Johnson played in the PGA TOUR’s World Wide Technology Championship and the Butterfield Bermuda Championship this past year. He made the cut at the World Wide Technology Championship held at El Cardonal at Diamante, the first course designed by Woods’ TGR Design to host a PGA TOUR event. Johnson made his PGA TOUR debut at the 2021 Memorial Tournament presented by Workday.
During the 2023 APGA Tour season, Johnson finished near the top of the leaderboard in all 11 of his starts. Johnson notched three wins (APGA Ascension Classic, APGA Farmers Insurance Cincinnati and APGA Farmers Insurance Austin), seven second-place finishes and a fifth-place finish on the APGA Tour in 2023. As a result of this fantastic season, Johnson finished atop the APGA Tour’s Player of the Year award standings, having the most combined points throughout the different APGA Tour events. Johnson also secured the APGA Tour’s fall series bonus as two of his victories in Cincinnati and Austin kicked off the three-event fall series.
“My game has been trending consistently for a while, and last year was a nice validation that my approach has been working,” Johnson said. “I have put in the work and know that my game is ready for Riviera.”
Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Johnson was introduced to golf at a very young age. His father, Mel, put a club in his hand before he could walk, and the now 28-year-old’s first words as a child were ‘da ball’ pointing to a golf ball. But golf wasn’t Johnson’s only love growing up. An avid gamer – Johnson’s favorite game was Tiger Woods PGA TOUR – and fan of the Harry Potter series, Johnson still listens to the books while practicing.
On the golf course, Johnson excelled through the First Tee of Akron program and won multiple youth championships while earning a golf scholarship to play at Kent State University. While at Kent State, Johnson was the MAC Player of the Year in 2015-16 and a three-time all-conference selection. Following college, Johnson moved to Florida, where he worked as a caddie as he honed his game. He played in 11 PGA TOUR Latinoamérica events in 2019 and advanced to the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020, making 32 starts.
Since 2009, an exemption has been given to a golfer representing a minority background to play in the annual PGA TOUR event at Riviera. In 2017, the exemption was re-named to honor the memory of Charlie Sifford, the first African-American player to compete on the PGA TOUR and the winner of the 1969 Los Angeles Open at Rancho Park.
The full list of previous Charlie Sifford Memorial Exemption recipients includes Vincent Johnson (2009), Joshua Wooding (2010), Joseph Bramlett (2011, 2020), Andy Walker (2012), Jeremiah Wooding (2013), Harold Varner III (2014), Carlos Sainz Jr. (2015), J.J. Spaun (2016), Kevin M. Hall (2017), Cameron Champ (2018), Tim O’Neal (2019), Willie Mack III (2021), Aaron Beverly (2022) and Marcus Byrd (2023).
