Tiger Woods takes stock of all the hot issues: Ryder Cup, merger, state of form

A few months after his umpteenth back operation, Tiger Woods had a slim hope of taking the start of “his” tournament organized in the Bahamas this week alongside hand-picked PGA Tour players.

Who will succeed Scottie Scheffler on the prestigious list of Hero World Challenge this week on the course in Albany, Bahamas?

Certainly not Tiger Woods.

The five-time winner of the tournament (2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011) decided to give up his participation last week. Absent since his early elimination from the 4th Grand Slam tournament of the season Troon in Scotland last July, the Tiger announced last week that it would not defend its chances, not yet considering itself ready.

An announcement that he confirmed this Tuesday morning at a press conference. His first in several months.

“I'm not ready for tournaments… I'm not ready enough to compete at this level. I need to keep training to give myself the best chance of being at the level next year. »

Justice will have to rule on the merger

Also asked about the progress of negotiations between the PIFwhich finances the circuit LIFE Golfand the PGA Tour with a view to a merger, Woods said that “that he would have liked to be able to announce something more concrete but that even if there was an agreement, the final decision would still be in the hands of the Justice Department. »

Another subject on which the almost 49-year-old player (he will celebrate his birthday on December 30) was asked, the remuneration of American players in Ryder Cup. Although he has only won the prestigious competition once in the memorable 1999 edition, Tiger does not remember the subject being of such importance.

“Going back to when I was playing, we had the same conversation in 1999: we didn't want to get paid. We wanted to give more to charity. It was never really about paying the players. »