A ‘legend’ in golf, 15-time major champion, and 82-time PGA Tour winner. These are but some of the names by which Tiger Woods is popularly known. But now, after the recent piece of news surrounding the launch of the new for-profit entity, it appears he will be known by one more moniker, the Vice-Chairman of the PGA TOUR Enterprises.
Nevertheless, one cannot deny the fact that he deserves to be a Player Director in the committee owing to the amount of contribution he has made to the game of golf. Well, now, as he gears up to take on another cape of responsibility, what are the major takeaways one can gather from his taking on a high position in the new entity?
Implications of Tiger Woods becoming Vice Chairman
“We have arrived at a PGA TOUR Enterprise’s Board of Directors with the right composition, expertise, and balance necessary to take our organization into the future,” said a visibly enthusiastic Jay Monahan as he commented on the committee including Woods. That does seem to hold true, as, first, the board will be in charge of all the commercial activities, which, in turn, will focus on the circuit’s growth.
How can that be made possible? Well, it would be done so by reportedly driving the engagement of fans and, in turn, growth, along with expanding new media, commercial, and sponsorship opportunities. Thus, it made perfect sense when the commissioner of the PGAT stated, “Their[Board of Directors’s] expertise will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the success and growth of our commercial initiatives.”
What’s more, it has been stated that all the Player Directors who are part of the Policy Board in the men’s circuit will be simultaneously working on the for-profit entity on the new Board. These golfers include the likes of Patrick Cantlay, Peter Malnati, Adam Scott, Webb Simpson, Jordan Spieth, and Woods, all the while bringing in Joe Ogilvie as a “Director Liaison” on both committees.
Earlier, Strategic Sports Group had agreed to strike a deal worth $3 billion with the PGA Tour to grow the circuit. As a result of the same, a total of four directors from SSG joined the board, taking up the position of director.Stakeholders at SSG become PGA TOUR Enterprises directors
Lastly, the four SSG Directors will include the likes of John W. Henry, Manager of Strategic Sports Group; Arthur M. Blank, owner and chairman of AMB Sports and Entertainment; Andrew B. Cohen, chief investment officer and co-founder, Cohen Private Ventures; and Sam Kennedy, CEO, Fenway Sports Group. Meanwhile, the for-profit body will elect a chairman at the next meeting that they have scheduled.
“Our role on the Enterprises Board will focus on hearing Player Director ideas,” indicated Henry before adding how they would work alongside them to “ensure the sport’s commercial growth occurs in a way that creates the best possible product for fans.” Moreover, the manager for SSG expressed hope for the future as he said, “All of us… see a bright future for the PGA TOUR,” before emphasizing the importance of the body; “the constitution of the Enterprises Board is an important first step in realizing that future.”
