Tiger Woods made his unofficial return to golf with a public appearance alongside PGA Tour commissioner Brian Rolapp at a press conference in Connecticut on Tuesday.
Woods read a prepared statement and didn’t take questions, introducing Rolapp to detail the establishment of a new two-track PGA Tour schedule to be implemented by 2028. The announcement came after meetings earlier this week in which Woods was a key participant as chairman of the Future Competition Committee.
“I think having Tiger involved was a tremendous asset and a privilege,” Rolapp said. “His insight into the game as a player but also being around it his whole life, the respect he has earned from fans, from his fellow members, from partners is invaluable. So, his leadership has been tremendous. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Maverick McNealy said Tuesday the presence and guidance of Woods was invaluable.
“He doesn’t move the needle in golf. He is the needle,” McNealy said. “Yeah, so having his support, his perspective, his views on how the tour has changed over the last 20 or 30 years gives us young guys a lot of perspective that we don’t have, and he’s a really smart guy. It’s great to see him back and everything’s stronger when he’s back around.”
During Rolapp’s press conference two days before the Travelers Championship tees off in Cromwell, Conn., Woods remained in the room and rejoined a group congratulating Rolapp on adding the commissioner title when Jay Monahan retires at the end of the year.
Woods was in Switzerland for treatment following his arrest March 27 on a DUI charge in Jupiter, Fla., but returned to the United States earlier this month.
