As Tiger Woods Remains Reticent Over His 2023 Hero World Challenge Role, Is It His Way of Taking a Hit at the PGA Tour For the $3B Merger?

If there is a single name from the entire golf fraternity that probably no golf enthusiast hates, it is unarguably Tiger Woods. In a career spanning over three decades, Woods has rightfully acquired the title of being one of the greatest golfers of all time. The golfing legend has so many records, accolades, and recognitions that it is tough to ignore or undermine his contributions to the sport. Apart from being a stunning golfer, he is also a great businessman and a mentor to many other golfers who wish to accomplish at least half of what he has accomplished. After contributing so much to the sport and doing so much for the game, the golfer is still not done and has a strong zeal in him to do more.

But that zeal lately has taken a back seat with every hardship that the GOAT has been facing. His professional struggles started back in 2021, when he met with a near-fatal accident. Although the golfer has mostly recovered from the injuries, some of the injuries still haunt him and have kept him away from the course for almost the entire 2023 season. His return to the course has been speculated for a very long time now, but his long-awaited return has now seemed to have taken a back seat. Why, you may wonder? Well, it could be because of his recovery or his $3 billion worth of integrity!

Why is Tiger Woods not really making a comeback at this year’s Hero World Challenge?

Just some days ago, Tiger Woods announced the 19-player field for his upcoming Hero Worlds Challenge and kept the 20th spot empty to give to a golfer under the tournament exemption. The vacant spot sparked rumors that Woods has kept this spot open for himself if he feels well by the time or will give it to the deserving golfer.

But the chances that Woods will fill in the sport are very narrow. Why? Well, firstly, although he is walking well and not limping as much, it is still unknown whether he is fit enough to compete. Secondly, his rift with the PGA Tour that happened back in June could be the reason he chose not to make a comeback in the professional game.

On June 6, 2023, the PGA Tour announced that they were merging with LIV Golf and the Saudi Public Investment Fund. The news took the entire golf world by storm, and the fact that even PGA Tour loyalists such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy were kept in the dark upset many people. The golf world then raised a lot of questions, and Woods and McIlroy refused to make any comments on the news.

Ever since, the 82X PGAT has kind of taken a back seat on the tour and has not given out any statement on the matter. After some deafening silence, the news broke out that Woods had been appointed as the final player director on the PGAT Policy Board to represent the golfers, and somehow it displayed that the golf Hall of Famer still wanted to be associated with the Tour.

To say that he is not making his comeback to professional golf because of the $3 billion merger would not entirely be true. The reason that could be speculated for his delayed return might have to do with the recovery from the ankle surgery that he underwent in April. Although the 15X major champion is doing much better now, as his recent sightings have revealed to anticipate that he is fit enough to compete, this could be false!

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What do Woods’ recent sightings dictate? 

Though the 5x Masters champion has been away from the course in a professional sense since March 2023, he has been making ample time to mentor golf’s next prodigy, his son, Charlie Woods. The golf great has been spotted on the course with his son caddying for him a couple of times.

Recently, Woods Jr. had competed in the Notah Begay III Championship, and Woods caddied for him for all three days and walked alongside his son. Fans observed that the golfer was walking properly without any limping, and it gave a ray of hope to all the TW fans out there that they would get to see him compete on the course very soon as he makes a stunning comeback.

Only time will tell when Tiger Woods will return to the course soon or will keep his fans waiting for a longer period of time. Or if he will return to the course at all or just keep contributing to the sport from the outside. Or would he just choose to stay away from the Tour altogether?

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