Adam Scott applauds Tiger Woods’ crucial PGA Tour move

Tiger Woods having an official say on the future of golf could mean good things for Australia.

Adam Scott has lauded the appointment of Tiger Woods to the PGA Tour’s policy board as a “fantastic move” in the wake of disquiet about commissioner Jay Monahan and as Australian golf seeks a bigger place in the new world landscape.

The move to give Woods a seat at the major decision-making table came after he and 40 other players sent a letter to the PGA Tour this week demanding more involvement in decisions shaping its future.

The policy board must approve the final agreement between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund, a decision that will determine the future of the game, including the future of the LIV Golf League.

Woods has been an outspoken critic of LIV, and while it’s place on the calendar remains under a cloud, Scott, who is playing at this week’s Wyndham Championship in a last-ditch bid to qualify for the PGA Tour playoffs, said the 15-time major champion’s voice was a crucial one.

“And I applaud Tiger for volunteering to go up on the board. I think it’s fantastic for the Tour moving forward and I think he also kind of has earned the right to have an opinion about how the Tour looks moving forward, to be honest,” Scott said.

“This is a players’ organisation and off the back of some of the events this year and maybe in years past, it had felt like maybe that voice wasn‘t heard enough.

“I think the players have generally tried to get a bit organised recently and act responsible as members of this Tour and get that balance right going forward.

Tiger Woods and Adam Scott at Royal Melbourne during the 2019 Presidents Cup. Picture: AAP Image/Rob Prezioso

“I certainly don‘t think the players want to be running the Tour, that’s for sure. We need a lot of help with that, but I think getting that balance right so that the membership is heard accurately is kind of what this is.”

There are growing demands for the PGA Tour to have a more world view and that includes bringing an event to Australia. The success of the LIV event in Adelaide has heightened that desire.

Woods is a long-time fan of Australian courses, particularly the Melbourne sandbelt, and his presence on the policy board could be advantageous for the southern hemisphere push.

Scott is 81st on the FedEx Cup rankings and needs to get in to the top 70 to qualify for the lucrative playoffs that begin with the St Jude Championship next week.

“I‘m really thinking about winning the tournament, not just trying to squeak in next week. I probably have to have a pretty high result to get in anyway, so I may as well think about winning, that‘s what I would like to do the most this week,” he said.

“It‘s like qualifying for a tournament except this is kind of a four-day qualifier for me. So sometimes that can really help you, it can intensify your focus and get the job done.

“I’ve been in similar positions before, kind of made a run last year through the playoffs and hopefully I can do that again.”