TIGER WOODS says his rift with Rory McIlroy over the peace talks between the PGA Tour and LIV will not wreck their friendship – or their plans to work together on an indoor golf league next year.
And Woods also played down the resignation of Policy Board member Jimmy Dunne, the original powerbroker behind the ‘framework agreement’ that paved the way for a potential deal between the two groups.
Dunne complained that there had been “no meaningful progress” in the talks, and that he felt his role had become “superfluous” as the players now dominated the Policy Board.
But Woods insisted: “Has there been progress? Yes.
“But it’s an ongoing negotiation, so a lot of work ahead for all of us with this process.
“We’re making steps and it may not be giant steps, but we’re making steps. It’s ongoing, it’s fluid, it changes day to day.
“It was a bit surprising that Jimmy resigned, and how it all came about.
“But his role and his help, what he’s been able to do for the PGA Tour, has been great.”
Woods was one of three players who voted against a move to allow McIlroy to rejoin the Policy Board, with the Northern Irishman saying it was because they “saw the future of golf differently”.
But Woods added: “It’s good to see it differently, but collectively as a whole, we want to see whatever’s best for all the players, the fans, and the state of golf.
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“How we get there, that’s to be determined. But the fact that we’re in this together and in this fight together to make golf better is what it’s all about.”
Reports last month stated Woods would receive a whopping £80million bonus for staying loyal to the PGA and snubbing LIV – with McIlroy set to pocket £40m.
Elsewhere, news of McIlroy’s divorce from wife Erica Stoll broke just days before the upcoming PGA Championship at Valhalla – the site of his fourth and most-recent major win in 2014.
The golfing superstar filed for divorce with documents sent to court in Florida on Monday.
No reason has been cited for the split, seven years on from their star-studded wedding in 2017, but paperwork said the marriage was “irretrievably broken”.
McIlroy’s team tonight released a statement that said: “Rory McIlroy’s communications team confirmed today that a divorce has been filed.
“They stressed Rory’s desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible.
“He will not be making any further comment.”
McIlroy was today spotted out on the Valhalla driving range in Kentucky.
Documents filed in the US showed that four-time major champion McIlroy and Erica signed a pre-nuptial agreement in March 2017 before they wed in April that year.
They also revealed the couple had agreed to “shared parental responsibility” for their daughter Poppy, three.
