“Is there light at the end of tunnel?” - Tiger Woods says the PGA Tour and Saudis wants the ‘same thing’ after meeting in NYC

After Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods has now dubbed the PGA Tour’s Transaction Committee and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia meeting a success. Commenting on the two sides’ first ever in-person meeting held on Friday, June 7, in New York, Woods said the stakeholders are closer to seeing the ‘light at the end of tunnel.’

Tiger Woods was replying to a media query on Rory’s comments on the NYC meeting, when he dubbed it “productive.” The PGA Tour policy board member said that both sides were “very positive” after the meeting. He claimed that the American circuit and the Saudis “all want the same thing” despite their differences in opinion.

It is pertinent to note that this is the 48-year-old golfer’s first public comments since the PGA Tour’s transaction committee met with the LIV Golf-backers.

Speaking about the New York meeting with PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and other stakeholders, Tiger Woods said after his US Open practice round on Tuesday (at 3:50):

“It was productive. Is there light at the end of tunnel? I think we’re closer to that point than we were premeeting… We discussed a lot of different endings and how we get there. I think that both sides walked away from the meeting, we all felt very positive in that meeting. As I said, both sides were looking at different ways to get to the endgame.

"Both sides shared a deep passion for how we need to get there. And, yes, there are going to be differences of opinion, but we all want the same thing.”

Tiger Woods attended the meeting with the PGA Tour team consisting of Commissioner Jay Monahan and veteran Australian golfer Adam Scott. Notably, McIlroy joined the meeting in NYC via video conferencing as he was competing at the Memorial during the time. Yasir Al-Rumayyan and other PIF officials were present at the meeting.

The details of the meeting are yet to be revealed. However, insiders like PGA Tour policy board member Webb Simpson have already made positive comments on the progress made during the talks despite not being part of it.

It is pertinent to note that the NYC meeting was held exactly a year after the announcement of the framework agreement.

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Rory McIlroy dubs PGA Tour-PIF meeting 'very productive'

Before Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy had dubbed the PGA Tour-PIF meeting “very productive.” The Northern Irishman, who attended the meeting virtually from Muirfield, said it was “very constructive” and “collaborative.”

The 35-year-old, who resigned from his position on the PGA Tour policy board last year, said that there has been positive progress made in the deal negotiation. Speaking a day after the NYC meeting, McIlroy said the talks were “heading in the right direction.”

Notably, the ace golfer recently revealed that the two sides have been taking multiple calls over the last few weeks regarding the negotiation. He added that the virtual calls were focused on the “the financials and the legals and all that,” unlike Friday’s in-person meeting.

McIlroy is a major part of the PGA Tour’s transaction committee. Interestingly, the golfer has received harsh criticism for his role in the PGA Tour-PIF deal. It is pertinent to note that the 26-time PGA Tour winner had slammed LIV Golf and its players during its initial years.

However, the golfer made a big U-turn in his opinion on the breakaway tour after the circuit began negotiation with the Saudis. Tiger Woods also joined him by making changes to his 'anti-LIV' stance.