It was always about what he did as opposed to what he said. The rise of Tiger Woods, to not only the dominant figure in golf but one of the most recognisable individuals in the world, occurred because of what transpired with clubs in hand rather than in front of microphones. The young Woods had a distrust of the press. Relations grew even more complex after scandal hit the golfer’s personal life. The media had to exist alongside him – to an extent careers depended on his prominence – without any sense of mutual warmth until the closing phase of his playing days became a stark reality.

This time, it is absolutely about what he says. Woods will make another comeback – Sinatra, etc – at next week’s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. With his foundation a benefactor and the backdrop lacking frenzy, Woods has made a habit of Albany appearances in December. This will be his first since he limped out of the Masters. Participation is a surprise, given the extent of his physical trouble at Augusta National in April.

During the intervening period, the 47-year-old has marched straight to the centre of golf’s civil war. Rory McIlroy may have departed the PGA Tour’s board scene but Woods, who was appointed in August, remains at the table. He does so as the PGA Tour flutters eyelids at corporate America. Tiger Woods holds considerable appeal for any business seeking investment.

Woods has never appeared to have much time for Greg Norman. The 15-time major winner has been publicly and continually dismissive of the LIV Golf model Norman fronts. When seven-figure appearance fees were being thrown around for participation in LIV’s precursor, the Saudi Invitational, Woods had no interest in playing a part in the kingdom’s none-too-subtle manoeuvres into golf.

So where on earth does this leave Woods as the PGA Tour tries to close out what appears to be an increasingly flaky deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund? He did not leap into an administrative and decision-making position because he had little else to do. This was about exerting influence; and plenty of it. Jay Monahan may be the Tour’s commissioner but Woods is the man players and spectators will follow. If he chooses to take a public wrecking ball to the PIF alliance when he speaks on Tuesday, the Tour finds itself back in direct opposition to LIV and this sport’s disruption model. The Tour, largely via poster boy Woods, also needs a workable Plan B. Woods may well cite confidentiality clauses but he has a duty to explain what he thinks the direction of travel for the elite game should be for the next several decades. If that is alongside the Saudi investors, Woods will have seriously changed his approach.

Professional golf is not in a pretty place. A looming, 31 December deadline for the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF to produce something beyond a framework agreement looks fanciful. McIlroy was well within his rights to cite time constraints when exiting the boardroom yet it was easy to assume he may not be in full agreement with what is transpiring behind closed doors.

Too many within the sport seem desperate to ensure Saudi riches come to them rather than be distributed elsewhere, therefore completely ignoring the source of these funds. This can be called Newcastle United syndrome. The sight of Martin Slumbers, the normally risk-averse chief executive of the R&A, playing golf alongside the governor of PIF at the Dunhill Links Championship was particularly alarming in this context. The R&A should be above trying to legitimise sportswashing by way of cosy photo opportunities.

Those within LIV continue to talk with absolute certainty about the future; this despite the tour’s lack of broad visibility, sponsorship and traction. The release of a 2024 schedule in recent days came after mumbling from a marquee player, Brooks Koepka, and with now typical gaps. There are loss leaders and there is cold analysis of what PIF must be spending to keep this operation afloat. On basis of calendar space alone, a golf world where traditional tours coexist with LIV makes no more sense now than it did when they announced peace in our golfing time in June.

The PGA Tour could take a punt. It could bank on LIV withering on the vine should a deal be done, instead, with one of the umpteen US private equity ventures which have been sniffing around the sport. LIV could treble down, try to coax more of the world’s top golfers and open warfare – minus legal jousts, which have been permanently halted – would resume. With Woods at the forefront of a recast PGA Tour, it is tough to see it failing.

A snapshot of Woods’s lingering commercial value to the Tour comes by way of its Player Impact Program. The scheme, designed to reward those who bring eyeballs to the product, paid Woods $12m this year as he finished second to McIlroy. Woods’s total income from this project has been $35m over three years in which he has barely struck a ball in anger.

Nate Lashley, the world No 190, called the program a “kick in the teeth” to the rank and file of the Tour. Lashley’s point is undermined by the fact nobody besides dedicated golf followers could pick him out of a lineup. He earned close to $2m in 2023 thanks to three top-10 finishes in a competition where dollar signs are driven by the big two. Of them, Woods retains the biggest profile. How he chooses to use it in the coming days will prove fascinating. Words, not actions.

Tiger Woods is finally making a comeback at Albany in the Bahamas. After a long period of seclusion due to his injuries, the golf legend will be swinging his club in the land of the Commonwealth. With that, a piece of his advice gets the spotlight in the golf world.

While golf is a game of golf swings, it is a natural inclination to get swayed by the fancy swings, but for the game, there are other aspects more important than swings, and Woods demonstrated exactly the right way to go about it. So, what is the golf GOAT’s right way of playing golf?

Tiger Woods Crucial Piece of Age-old Advice 

The greatest golfer of all time had shared a piece of advice that was well-received by the golf community fourteen years ago. This very piece of advice holds power even to this day. In an interview session, he talked about how golf doesn’t have a specific way to play. He also appreciated every golfer’s way of playing.

Added to that, he talked about the most beautiful part of golf, which is that it can be played in several ways; whatever works for the golfer is the best. He went on to talk about how different body parts can be utilized. “You can play it with hands. You can play it with all body. You can play anywhere in between. … We all have our own finger print. You have to find a system that works best for you.” 

Lastly, he ended the conversation with, “Whatever makes your game better, do it. If you hit the ball better and hit it [more consistently], do it” 

Wise words indeed! Tiger Woods has inspired a generation of budding golfers, and he will continue to do so for generations to come. At the year’s end, Woods will be participating in two back-to-back tournaments. He has finally recovered from the injuries in his right leg that led him to withdraw from the Masters Tournament back in April. The aggravated plantar fasciitis during the third round even made the Hall of Famer undergo subtalar fusion surgery later. But as per recent reports, Woods is healthy, and he is practicing hard for his comeback.

He will make a return in his own event, the Hero World Challenge, scheduled to be played from November 30 to December 3. Last week, he confirmed his participation as the 20th player on the field. After that, he will also be joining his son Charlie Woods at the PNC Championship, hoping to finally grab a win after his 2021 close call, where the duo ended up losing to John Daly and his son. Thus, Woods is evidently running a tough schedule, and his old advice might work wonders for him.