Tiger Talks
The Genesis Invitational host opens the door to a Ryder Cup captaincy while not yet ruling out the 2026 Masters. Plus, a salute to the last thing keeping Riviera's 10th a par-4.
Tiger Woods discussed a variety of topics Tuesday before announcing a sponsorship extension for the tournament where he made his PGA Tour debut 34 years ago.
Now in year ten of what’s been a strong partnership, Genesis and Woods’ TGR Live will continue to operate the Los Angeles PGA Tour stop through 2030. The Genesis Invitational originally started as the Los Angeles Open in 1926 and is celebrating its 100th playing this week. The tournament returns to Riviera Country Club after a one-year hiatus following last January’s wildfires.
“I’d like to thank Genesis for their renewed commitment to The Genesis Invitational,” Woods said. “We have found new ways to elevate this tournament over the past decade. We are grateful to Genesis for their continued partnership and support of the tournament and TGR Foundation.”
Still recovering from another back surgery, Woods was asked about how things stand with the PGA Tour policy board’s planning for a revamp of the schedule, including the possibility of The Genesis moving from a wintertime date.
Woods also acknowledged during Tuesday’s full-house press conference that he’s (finally) been contacted by the PGA of America about the possibility of captaining the 2027 Ryder Cup team at Adare Manor.
Here are the highlights from a session that can be viewed on YouTube in its entirety.
On the Ryder Cup captaincy. “The [PGA of America] have asked me for my input on it, and I haven’t made my decision yet. I’m trying to figure out what we’re trying to do with our Tour. That’s been driving me hours upon hours every day and trying to figure out if I can actually do Team USA and our players and everyone that’s going to be involved in the Ryder Cup, if I can do it justice with my time.”
On his recently operated-on back. “It’s just sore. It takes time…it’s probably going to take me a little bit longer. My body has been through a lot. It’s just one of those things where it’s each and every day, I keep trying, I keep progressing, I keep working on it, trying to get stronger, trying to get more endurance in this body and trying to get it at a level at which I can play at the highest level again.”
On whether playing in the Masters is “off the table” given his current physical state. “No.”
On Anthony Kim’s win at LIV Adelaide: “He was on an unbelievable run when he won at Charlotte, and we played each other -- against each other at Congressional. He played unbelievable at the 2008 Ryder Cup. He had so much natural talent. He could hit any shot he wanted. Then to see him struggle in life and didn’t really want to play golf, didn’t really want to be part of golf, and for him to come all the way back and for him to win and to be as devoted as he is to his family, it’s a story in which -- you just have to wrap your heart around it because of the struggles.”
On the challenges of rethinking the PGA Tour schedule. “It’s trying to serve literally everyone, from the player side of it, from our media partners, from all of our title sponsors, from the local communities or even changing venues and going to bigger markets. It’s what do we need to do from a competitive model to make our tour the best product it can possibly be each and every year, and still have room for development. How do we do all of that at the same time.”
On a timeframe for the implementation of a revamped and possibly reduced schedule. “We would like to have it happen in 2027. We may have to roll it out over a couple-year period. We may not be able to implement all of it in 2027, but there will definitely be parts of it integrated or changed than from what it is now in ‘26 into ‘27.”
On the Genesis Invitational potentially moving to August as a PGA Tour “Playoff” event. “It’s always perfect in SoCal here in August. So yes, we’re looking at things like that, looking to go to bigger markets later in the year for the playoffs. Just trying to make our competitive model better, and how do we do that. I think that is one of the options you mentioned with Genesis. That certainly is on the table.”
A Salute To The 10th Hole’s Last Defense
