‘Earn His Way’: Jay Monahan Reveals Tiger Woods’s Fighting Mindset After Question on Special Category at The PLAYERS

The 2024 PLAYERS Championship is slowly encroaching on the golf world. Although many top golfers are set to tee it off at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, there is one athlete who would not be participating even though it is his last chance to get an exemption for the event—none other than Tiger Woods himself. However, would his accolades at the event give him another chance? Jay Monahan doesn’t seem to think so.

The commissioner of the PGA Tour took to a press conference ahead of the upcoming PGA Tour event in Florida. Meanwhile, he was faced with the question of whether the golfing legend would be allowed to play in the tournament after making a special category catering to him. However, Monahan was quick to dismiss all of them while disclosing Woods’s thoughts regarding the same.

Will Tiger Woods be allowed a special exemption into The PLAYERS?

“I think you all know Tiger well enough,” answered the PGAT commissioner regarding special privileges being given to Woods owing to him being a past champion. Monahan further delved into the 48-year-old’s mindset and outlook and stated that how the 82-time PGA Tour winner would “want to earn his way into… every competition. That’s his makeup.”

Additionally, however, the Tour official mentioned how such discussions are more likely to be held at the Policy Board Meeting. Adding on, he said, “But I think as you go forward and as you evolve as an organization… to serve and satisfy a rabid fan base.” But even so, he was quite sure of what Mr.T would say as he pointed out, “he would have been the hardest one to convince.”

The golfer had managed to emerge victorious at the event back in 2001 and 2013 but has not played at the tournament since 2019. Interestingly, this year would be the last time Mr. T would be able to participate owing to his five-year exemption, which he received via his major victory in 2019 at the Masters Tournament.

Meanwhile, a similar stance was taken by the Tour official when it came to another athlete as well. Later on, in the presser, he had gone ahead to comment on how the golfer dubbed as ‘the next Tiger Woods’ would also not be offered any special privileges.

Monahan hints at a privilege-less return for Anthony Kim

The commissioner, despite expressing how he would have liked the American Pro to make a comeback to his circuit. But even so, he wasn’t too keen on offering any benefits as he replied, “He’s not a member of the PGA TOUR, so I don’t have any, anything further to add,” when asked if Kim would have been offered any sponsor invites.

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Besides, the 38-year-old would have to compete his way into the league, unlike LIV Golf where he is currently contracted to play a total of 11 tournaments for a reported $50,000 each. Thus, considering the two options, it doesn’t take much to infer why Kim went ahead to sign with the breakaway league leaving behind the PGA Tour.

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