In one of the most chaotic days in the lead-up to a major championship, with thunderstorms disrupting practice sessions, interviews canceled and then resumed, Tiger Woods said he may not have time to become Ryder Cup captain, shocking news Rory McIlroy has filed for divorce. If this is a sign of things to come, Valhalla and the 106th PGA Championship may prove the scene.
Weather damage was a theme when McIlroy won the event at Valhalla in 2014, his last major success. The threat of an electrical storm halted play around 10 a.m. Tuesday, and pregame media conferences were canceled for the rest of the day. The forecast for the rest of the week calls for worse conditions, which is sure to cause anxiety at the top of the PGA of America.
The change in conditions allowed players to return to the course and Woods and others to face the media. That was followed by news that McIlroy filed court documents in Florida on Monday seeking to end his seven-year marriage to Erica Stoll. The spokesman for the world number two stressed that he wanted to “ensure that this difficult period is treated as respectfully and kindly as possible”.
McIlroy said he would not comment further on the matter, but it would be put to the test immediately. He is scheduled to hold a media conference in Kentucky on Wednesday afternoon. McIlroy arrives at Valhalla with back-to-back wins on the PGA Tour, including Sunday in Charlotte in dominating style.
The PGA of America has been keen for some time that Woods leads the American team at Bethpage next September. However, despite a series of meetings, the 15-time major champion has refused to fully assume the duties of Ryder Cup captain. As a PGA Tour board member, Woods has been immersed in talks aimed at unifying elite golf. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) remains keen to strike a deal that would see the rebellious LIV Tour align itself to some extent with existing institutions.
“We’re still talking about it,” Woods said of the Ryder Cup situation. “Nothing is confirmed yet. We’re still figuring out what it’s going to look like. And whether I’ll have time to do it.
“I have invested so much time on the PGA Tour and I wouldn’t want to fulfill my captain’s duties if I couldn’t do that. What it all means is representing Team USA and the commitment to the PGA of America, the players and the fans, I need to Feeling like I can give the time I deserve. That said, time has passed since Luke Donald was confirmed as Team Europe’s New York defensive line captain.
Doubts about the possibility of a deal between the PGA Tour and the PIF grew on Monday when influential businessman Jimmy Dunne resigned from the Tour’s policy committee. Dunn claimed that his character had become “redundant” and lamented the lack of “meaningful progression”. “Unifying professional golf is vital to restoring fan interest and repairing the wounds left by the broken game,” Dunn said in a letter to tour members.
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Woods admitted he was surprised by Dunn’s departure. “We are negotiating with the PIF,” Woods said. “It’s ongoing, fluid, and changing every day. Is there any progress? Yes. But this is an ongoing negotiation, so we all have a lot of work to do in the process. We are taking steps. , while it may not be huge steps, we are taking steps.
Despite numerous injuries, Woods remains confident about his future on the golf course. He made the cut at the Masters last month but finished in 60th place. “I still feel like I can win golf tournaments,” the 48-year-old said. “I still feel like I can hit the ball, still feel like my hands are still on the green, I can putt. I only have to spend four days doing it instead of just four days like I did at Augusta National Two days like that.
