Tiger Woods believes peace has come closer to the war that has shaken golf to its foundations.
The five-time Masters champion played a round with LIV kingpin Yasir Al-Rumayyan in the Bahamas and, after completing a record-breaking week in Augusta, revealed that the end of the explosive feud may be in sight.
Woods, seen as a key figure in finding a solution between the PGA and the Saud-backed separatist tour, was asked how the March meeting, held at his residence, had gone.
“I don’t know if we’re any closer,” he said, “but we’re certainly headed in the right direction.”
All six of the Tour’s player managers attended the summit, which was viewed as a “meet and greet” to examine future Saudi investment in the PGA Tour.
Woods waves his hat to the crowd as he walks to the 18th green Sunday at Augusta.
Woods said he played a round with LIV kingpin Yasir Al-Rumayyan (pictured) in the Bahamas.
“It was a very positive meeting,” added Woods, drenched in sweat, “and I think both sides came away from the meeting feeling positive.”
Woods, at 48, avoided the cut at Augusta National for a record 24th time after returning from further surgery. However, he was never seriously in contention and finished 16 over par, which, as he headed to the clubhouse, left him last in the field.
Still, he described it as “a good week.” “It was a good week overall,” she added. ‘I think coming here, not having played a full tournament in a long time, it was a good fight on Thursday and Friday. Unfortunately, it didn’t go the way I wanted.’
His playing partner Tom Kim scored a glorious 66, and Woods was left wondering what might have been. “I thought I had the way Tom plays in my system,” he explained. “Unfortunately, I didn’t produce it.”
Far from retiring, he has now set his sights on trying to regain some of the form that took him to the top of the sport. “Keep lifting, keep your motor going, keep your body moving, keep getting stronger, keep progressing,” he said. “Hopefully the practice sessions will continue to be longer.”