Tiger Woods at Valhalla course in Kentucky preparing for the 2024 major PGA Championship.

That’s why he was in Valhalla two days earlier to test the field. The tournament, hosted by the American Professional Golf Association (PGA of America), is taking place at Valhalla for the fourth time. The three previous tournaments were in 1996, 2000 and 2014, in which Woods won the championship in the middle tournament and was eliminated from the next tournament because his back injury had not healed. Problems in this department caused Woods to go to the operating table five times in his career. In addition, the former world number one had five surgeries on his left knee, which were damaged due to expertise.

Since the near-fatal traffic accident in February 2021, Woods has been completely weak, especially his legs, and has limited competition. After that incident, “Super Tiger” only participated in two tournaments hosted by him in the PGA Tour calendar and the four majors. As for the prestigious group in the past three years, Woods has been eliminated or recorded lackluster results, especially the Masters team last month.

Meeting the press before the 2024 PGA Championship, Woods appeared with a goatee and said it was because he was lazy to shave it clean. He was also asked about the possibility of accepting the position of captain of the US team at the Ryder Cup in September 2025. However, Woods said he would turn down the role. “We are still discussing that task. But I will be busy with many things in the near future, especially at the PGA Tour. And so, I don’t want to take on the captain position without having enough time to devote to the task,” he said.

Woods currently serves on the PGA Tour Policy Board, and also holds the position of Vice President of a business unit called PGA Tour Enterprises. This business was born with the main task of attracting and deploying capital as well as doing business for the PGA Tour while helping the host organization maintain a non-profit legal entity, thereby receiving tax exemption.

PGA Tour Enterprises has received an immediate investment of 3 billion USD from Strategic Sports Group including billionaires and corporations in the American sports and entertainment industry, and is expected to receive additional Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) – owner of LIV Golf League. Recently, the PGA Tour established a negotiating subcommittee with PIF Saudi, which also included Woods.