Tiger’s well being, LIV Golf shakeups and extra: Tour Confidential

Verify in each week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the most well liked subjects within the sport, and be part of the dialog by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we talk about Tiger Woods’ newest well being updates, Greg Norman’s LIV Golf departure, the LPGA Tour’s seek for a brand new CEO and extra.

Tiger Woods spoke to the media at his Hero World Problem, calling final season a wash and nonetheless not sure about how wholesome he’ll be to play persistently in 2025. What was your greatest takeaway from Tiger’s time with the media, and the way for much longer do you assume he’ll method every season hoping however not sure if he’ll play just a few majors earlier than he decides to hold it up for good? Are we near that?

Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): It’s like deja vu at this press convention yearly. Tiger appears to all the time be annoyed together with his well being and not sure of what he’ll be capable to do the approaching season. When he stated he hoped to play as soon as a month it turned out that wasn’t even shut. However none of that is shocking at this level; it’s simply actuality. The man’s physique has been by means of rather a lot. That stated, I believe this would be the establishment going ahead. He’s nonetheless aggressive and goes to play as a lot as he can and I don’t assume a full-fledged retirement is coming quickly until issues get considerably worse. However I’m additionally curious how a lot (if in any respect) he’ll play on the Champions Tour when he will get to cruise round in a cart. That day is approaching shortly.

Josh Sens, senior author (@joshsens): Agreed, Josh. Tiger famously performs issues near the vest. However for a protracted whereas now, I don’t assume he’s recognized way more about his plans than the remainder of us have, and people plans have been to play as many majors as potential, together with a tiny handful of different occasions. All the majors can be found to him for just about so long as he’s keen to carry out hope. And I don’t count on him to surrender on them completely anytime quickly. However as Crimson Sox second baseman Jerry Remy stated when he grew to become a broadcaster: we’re all daily, even GOATs.

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): Tiger is all the time going to say he’s hoping to play the majors (and some different choose tournaments), however the actuality is his physique isn’t going to permit that. The day his automotive veered off the highway in 2021, his profession successfully ended. It stays to be seen how lengthy it would take him to simply accept that reality.  

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman confirmed stories that had been circulating for weeks, which is that he’ll be out because the league’s CEO following his three-year run. (Former Harris Blitzer Sports activities & Leisure CEO Scott O’Neil has been reported as his alternative.) How will Norman’s time as CEO at LIV be remembered? And years from now, how vital will his position have been in regardless of the professional golf panorama appears to be like like?

Berhow: Norman’s had such a weird and complicated relationship with the game. It’s really fairly tough to maintain this reply concise, however briefly he did properly to signal some big-name gamers away from the Tour — Rahm, Bryson, Brooks, and so forth. — and, prefer it or not, introduced disruption to the sport that some followers and gamers thought was due for disrupting. However he additionally by no means bought a top quality TV deal, which was essential to LIV Golf increasing its attain and proving it was greater than only a hit-and-giggle start-up with a bizarre format that was streamed on YouTube. Would LIV Golf or the professional golf panorama look that in a different way proper now with out Norman, and if another person had simply taken that position? In all probability not a lot, however Norman might be eternally tied to it.

Sens: With their monetary muscle, the Saudis presumably may have discovered any variety of individuals to assist them disrupt the boys’s professional sport. However Norman was the right vessel for it: a worldwide star with stressed ambition and–given {that a} rival tour was his thought all alongside– a super-sharp axe to grind. This weight of his identify certainly didn’t harm with recruiting a bunch of the blokes that LIV now has. However distaste for Norman might need helped flip off others, and did little to additional the prospect of negotiations.

Melton: Norman might be remembered as a polarizing and disruptive determine. Whether or not you see that as a great factor or a foul one is as much as you. 

From one outgoing CEO to a different, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, commissioner of the LPGA Tour, introduced she will step down from her position in January, two years earlier than her contract reportedly expired. Whereas purses rose considerably since Marcoux Samaan took over in Might 2021, the 2024 season ended with a Solheim Cup parking debacle and a key sponsor calling out the Tour at its season-ending occasion. What might be Marcoux Samaan’s legacy? And what do you assume in the end led to this early departure?

Berhow: Purses raised drastically in her time and whereas that’s not fully resulting from a league’s CEO, they get to take a ton of the credit score. Growing the purses and increasing the league’s attain and publicity had been in all probability the 2 most necessary objects on her to-do checklist when she began, and whereas one was achieved I’m undecided the opposite was. Was that fully her fault? In all probability not, but when the boss can take credit score for purse will increase they should take the autumn when issues don’t go so properly. Nelly Korda had a historic season and it simply by no means appeared to realize as a lot traction because it ought to have. (Once more, Korda in all probability may have helped herself extra right here too.) Lastly, the Solheim Cup parking snafu was dangerous and the speedy response wasn’t significantly better.

Sens: I don’t assume you possibly can lay the parking debacle completely at her ft. Her position is big-picture, not the nitty-gritty of on-the-ground logistics . But it surely was dangerous optics (and the sluggish communications response was amateurish), and a part of the boss’s job is taking warmth when such issues go fallacious. That the third spherical of the season-ending CME Championship was proven on tape-delay was one other dangerous look. However that was a TV contract negotiated earlier than Marcous Samaan took over. Once more, although, the buck has to cease someplace, in order that turns into entwined in her legacy as properly. In her protection, I believe frustrations with the LPGA the season are reflective of a difficulty throughout the board in skilled golf: gamers and organizations and networks need and count on extra money than the market really warrants. Golf is a distinct segment sport.

Melton: I’ll give Mollie credit score, she helped elevate purses throughout the LPGA Tour and was usually well-liked amongst gamers. Finally, nevertheless, her incapability to function as an efficient communicator was her downfall. The issues the LPGA Tour faces are too giant for one singular determine to repair and I’d count on the subsequent commish to face related headwinds. At a naked minimal, although, they should discover somebody who can higher talk with followers, sponsors and the media. 

Following a 12 months during which NBC Sports activities held mini “tryouts” for its lead analyst position, the community introduced Kevin Kisner would be the alternative to take over the full-time gig most just lately held by Paul Azinger. Do you just like the Kisner choice over the opposite candidates?

Berhow: I believe Kisner’s laid-back persona and relationship with so many present Tour execs performed to his benefit, however from that chair it’s additionally their job to be important when crucial. How typically will Kisner pull that arrow from his quiver? We’ll discover out.

Sens: Kisner may be humorous and he clearly is aware of what it’s wish to be on the market, however there’s little question that shut ties to the gamers he’s masking is each a profit and a legal responsibility. I perceive that Brandel Chamblee is just not universally beloved, however I additionally assume he’s as sensible and incisive as there’s in golf. I might have preferred to see him within the position.

Melton: It’s wonderful. The rent isn’t ground-breaking, however it’s not a complete flop both. I might’ve most popular to see Chamblee within the sales space, however alas. 

Two prime American gamers returned rejuvenated final week, with Jordan Spieth taking over the Hero after a wrist harm and a bulked-up Will Zalatoris teeing it up on the DP World Tour following his first wholesome offseason in years. Each sounded optimistic about 2025. Who may have the higher season?

Berhow: Willy Z. He’s had a 12 months to get extra snug with the broomstick putter and his new swing. He appears wholesome, excited and dedicated. I like him to win not less than as soon as subsequent season and wouldn’t be stunned to see him do it twice.

Sens: Zalatoris. Even when he was profitable majors, Spieth was reliant on an otherworldly scrambling and placing sport, which is tough to maintain. Perhaps extra importantly, he has additionally been by means of a protracted interval of struggles together with his sport as an entire, which takes a toll on the boldness. 

Melton: My coworkers nailed it. Zalatoris regarded like among the best gamers on the earth earlier than his harm troubles. If he’s again to 100%, look out.