Tiger Woods Snatches Spotlight, as Rory McIlroy Seeks Redemption With His Father by His Side?

The Seminole Pro-Member has always been an exclusive event for golf’s elite. One, where Rory McIlroy has sort of become a regular. This time, too, the Northern Irish pro returns with a family member by his side. But Tiger Woods, debuting for the first time at Juno Beach, has garnered all the spotlight.

The star-studded field is stacked with top pros from golf and the NFL, as well as industry leaders. Interestingly, two of the PGA Tour policy board members will also tee up. But arguably, Woods’s surprise addition has made the private affair a focal point of discussion.

Rory McIlroy partners with his father while Tiger Woods makes his debut

The Northern Irishman will line up with his father, Gerry McIlroy, who is also a member of the Seminole Golf Club. McIlroy has played with his father before at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Earlier, the Ulsterman said that he would’ve traded an individual trophy for a team title at St. Andrews in 2022. At Juno Beach, the 34-year-old will look to alter his fate amid going through a poor run of form on the Stateside.

But the limelight, inevitably, falls on a certain 48-year-old. Interestingly, Tiger Woods has been invited before as well but never accepted the opportunity. That’s despite living on Jupiter for the past decade. But the veteran has decided to give it a shot this time. 

Woods, who added another laurel to his crown, admitted at Riviera that he was going to be rusty. Also, the Hall of Famer wanted to tee off at one event a month. All was going according to plan, but Influenza shackled his first official PGA Tour outing in more than a year to the opening round only. So, despite the Seminole Pro-Member being a one-day affair, it has added significance for the former World No. 1.

It is not yet clear whether the 48-year-old will tee off at the Arnold Palmer Invitational or head directly towards the Players Championship. Regardless, the one-day event seems to be preparation for a four-day outing in the near future.

Who is in the field in the Seminole Pro-Member?

Justin Thomas will pair up with Yext CEO Seth Waugh for a foursome with Tiger Woods and Waugh. On the other hand, Tony Finau will join forces with NFL legend Tom Brady. The former World No. 1 Ernie Els will pair up with South African businessman Johann Rupert. 

From the LPGA side, Nelly Korda will join the stacked field that includes the 2021 Open Champion, Collin Morikawa, and Matt Fitzpatrick. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred will also be at the one-day event. Seminole Golf Club president and PGA Tour board member Jimmy Dunne III, who helped broker a deal with PIF, the Saudi Sovereign Fund that powers LIV golf, will join the field. Ed Herlihy, the PGA Policy Board chairman, is set to tee up on Monday as well.

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Interestingly, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, and Dustin Johnson highlighted the field in 2022, while Jon Rahm was in the field last year. However, there will be no LIV Golfers this time as well, while the Tour continues the talk with PIF for the $3 billion merger agreement. Last year, Eamon Lynch wrote at Golfweek that Dunne blocked the pathway for LIV players to join the event.

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