PGA TOUR COUNTDOWN™

Tiger Woods' Triumphant Return & the Heart of Golf: Insights and Inspirations on PGA Tour Countdown

February 17, 2024 HOST: FRANK A. BASSETT
Tiger Woods' Triumphant Return & the Heart of Golf: Insights and Inspirations on PGA Tour Countdown
PGA TOUR COUNTDOWN™
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PGA TOUR COUNTDOWN™
Tiger Woods' Triumphant Return & the Heart of Golf: Insights and Inspirations on PGA Tour Countdown
Feb 17, 2024
HOST: FRANK A. BASSETT

Gather 'round, golf aficionados and sports enthusiasts, as we mark the momentous return of Tiger Woods to the greens and his hosting gig at the iconic Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club. Amid the stately eucalyptus and the storied fairways, we're talking comebacks, resilience, and the sheer love of the game with the man who's redefined golf. Tiger shares his candid insights on playing through pain, the fusion that's changed his swing but not his spirit, and the unyielding passion that keeps him coming back to the course he adores.


Show Notes Transcript Chapter Markers

Gather 'round, golf aficionados and sports enthusiasts, as we mark the momentous return of Tiger Woods to the greens and his hosting gig at the iconic Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club. Amid the stately eucalyptus and the storied fairways, we're talking comebacks, resilience, and the sheer love of the game with the man who's redefined golf. Tiger shares his candid insights on playing through pain, the fusion that's changed his swing but not his spirit, and the unyielding passion that keeps him coming back to the course he adores.


Speaker 1:

This is PGA Tour Countdown, and welcome in everybody, frank Bassett, joining you for this edition of PGA Tour Countdown, and it is a big week on the PGA Tour One. Tiger Woods is playing in his tournament that he's hosting and being a player in that is at Riviera Country Club, the Genesis Invitational. It's going to be a great tournament, going to be a lot of fun and we get to see Tiger back again. Let's see what happens with Tiger, see if he can make it, can play through the hurt, the pain, even a possible illness, but I think we're going to see some exciting golf. A lot of big names are there. It's a big event and it's at one of my favorite country clubs, riviera Country Club. It's a beautiful, beautiful place, very historic place and one heck of a hard golf course to navigate A thinker's golf course and a bomber's golf course too. So anyway, let's get to it.

Speaker 1:

We have some of the interviews in their own words from the Media Center Live. We'll listen to Adam Scott and some others. We'll surprise you. I think Tiger might be involved in this one too. Here we go. Good to go it is All right, Matt.

Speaker 2:

Are we ready? All right, We'd like to welcome Adam Scott to the interview room here at the Genesis Invitational. Adam, you're making your 16th start, 7 top 10s, past champion. What's it like to be back?

Speaker 3:

Well, it's always a highlight of my year playing here. I love this track and I love this event. I'm lucky enough to have won it twice and it's my favorite event. I play on tour, so I'm so thankful to be a sponsors invite this week and get the chance to have another go around Riviera at the Genesis.

Speaker 2:

And you're making your third start this season, coming off the top 10 finish last week. Just some comments on the stadium game right now.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I played quite nicely last week, especially Sunday. I played 30 something holes, I think, and played nicely and finished with a top 10. I generally like the way my game is feeling. It's been two interrupted weeks for me on tour this year so it's been tough to get in a rhythm. Hopefully a good week this week and I can keep the good momentum with my golf game going.

Speaker 2:

Awesome With that. We'll open it up to questions. If you could just raise your hand, We'll get a microphone over to you. We'll start with Dan over here on the left-hand side.

Speaker 4:

You've had such an incredible career. It's funny hearing you saying that you're here on a sponsors exemption. When's the last time you had to rely on a sponsors exemption before this year? What's that conversation like?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I can't remember exactly when the last Sponsors Invite was. I mean, I probably have been invited to a tournament in Asia or something like that throughout the years, but on the tour it's been a while, that's for sure, and that was fine, and I fully I'm of the view that these invitations are unrestricted to the Sponsors and they can invite whoever they want and that's up to them. So I feel lucky that I've got one of them, and if I didn't, then I didn't qualify. So that's how it goes. I don't expect to get invited to every tournament that I ask for either, but I am very happy to be here. Like I said, this is an event I look forward to very much. This is my favourite track of the year and hopefully make the most of it.

Speaker 4:

If you had to distill it down to what makes this golf course so special, what would you say?

Speaker 3:

I don't think too many people would argue that it's a great designed golf course. But there are other things to me, obviously. I've played nicely here, so I have good feelings about that. I have feelings like I'm in Australia when I play the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th holes. The Eucalyptus trees kind of smell like it does in Australia, the grass is similar, the weather can be similar as well Nice weather here in LA and I just have this certain level of comfort. So there's more than just purely a great golf course for me.

Speaker 2:

We'll head over to Sean over here on the right.

Speaker 5:

In terms of the player equity system, I'm wondering to what extent are you aware of the details of it and then, secondly, why you think player equity is important.

Speaker 3:

I'm aware of the details as much as that's been shared with the entire membership, which is fairly broad outline and still some things to be worked out. But I think it is a good thing for players on the PGA Tour going forward, that they are sharing in the success of the tour and certainly aligning their interest with the PGA Tour and going forward. Hopefully that is a great reward for players who spend their life out here playing.

Speaker 5:

I guess, to players communicating with you in the board position. Do they view it as important? Does it feel like an important asset that you guys will be having in the future?

Speaker 3:

I think in time they'll understand. Like we just said, not all the details are there so recently, not being a player on the board and sitting in a big group of members when things like this happen, I think sometimes little notice is taken until it's all finalized. So I hope once all the details are ironed out and the equity program is put into place, guys will be very excited and obviously be pushing for good things to happen at the PGA Tour.

Speaker 2:

Additional questions for Adam Sean, again on the right hand side.

Speaker 5:

Less equity in this question. When you have a Sunday, like you just did 30 holes or so it's something you're not used to I'm sure what part of your game starts to feel different. In those extra 12 holes or so, is there anything that kind of tires out quicker or a way that you need to?

Speaker 3:

refocus Only the body and the mind. You know there is for sure no doubt. I mean I haven't been 100% health for the last few weeks. So last week was a bit of a challenge because I played like 30 holes on Friday and 30 holes on Sunday. But there's no doubt like I was feeling my left hip, you know, felt a bit tired like going into the last nine. And the fact of the matter is I'm not 25 anymore but I'm still in pretty good shape. I'm not complaining about it. I made it and I played well. But there is the reality of some age things and you know recovery is important as well. You know I don't practice quite as much as I did 10 years ago either, so it's all a bit of a balance. But fortunately I was in good enough health to get through last week. Hopefully I've got some in the tank for this week too.

Speaker 2:

We have time for a couple more. We'll go to Doug.

Speaker 7:

I had a couple more with an option for a third. How much? What is your? How many peak years do you have left? Do you ever think about stuff like that? Or do you still feel 30? That was a joke.

Speaker 3:

I think I've got at least a couple in me, doug. You know, staying healthy, I'm in good shape and just comparing myself to some of the guys who are playing at the top of the game, you know, if you're looking at numbers and things like this, which we do a lot now, I think I'm relevant, but at the end of the day it's about executing it and you know I obviously have to do a little better job to think I'm one of the best players in the world at the moment, but I for sure think I've got a couple more years, unless all of a sudden my numbers start tapering off quickly.

Speaker 7:

Who has impressed you the most for longevity?

Speaker 3:

There are a few guys. Well, we even even Fred Couples today. I mean, he's still making it look pretty easy at 64 years old and I know he looks like he's going to make the cut at the Masters most years still. It's quite impressive. I think there are a few guys out here. Matt Cooches out here, still playing at a high level. We saw Charlie Hoffman at 47 nearly winning the other day. So it's possible. But it's definitely getting harder for the guys in their mid-40s to stay competitive at the top week in and week out. But when you're a talented player and you're on the PGA tour any given week, I think you can still get it done. But it's harder Harder to do it year round.

Speaker 8:

I have one more that's so stupid, I'm going to turn it over to Adam first.

Speaker 4:

Go ahead, adam, I'm not sure if I'm going to do it better. What made you want to be on the policy board at this stage in your career?

Speaker 3:

Well, when I put myself up to be elected as chairman of the PAC which puts you on the policy board that was back in January last year and at that time the signature events had kind of been put in place and I was quite interested to be involved in the evolution of the competitions at the PGA tour and how the signature events might evolve and the competition and the FedEx Cup, and I felt like I had a perspective that I could share and be helpful at the board level with how that goes. Little did I know that I'd get involved in some business deals and other things like that, but that was my motivation for going on the board.

Speaker 4:

I felt like I could be a positive contributor in that sense, Are you concerned that it could be detrimental to your own game, the time commitment and how much you're having to do?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I think if it's ongoing, like how it's been, I have to give a lot of credit to the players who've been on there. I've been only on a month, but I know the players who were on there the last six months or last year have given a lot of time and, yeah, I think we have to be aware that we have another job and to play high level golf.

Speaker 3:

you need to put a lot into that, and that includes time for the brain to rest and recover as well. I think everyone involved at the PGA tour, and including SSG, are grateful to the guys who've put in so much time and are hoping that it won't require as much time going forward.

Speaker 2:

And last one, and then we're going to head to.

Speaker 4:

Bob, where do you fall on the cuts during these signature events?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, I generally think they should all look the same if they can. I know that might be tricky with Pebble Beach because it's a pro-am, so that's a slightly different one. But generally I think they should all have cuts or all not have cuts, and that's how I would answer that. I don't mind, I would pick probably what is the best decision for television sponsors, fans. That's what I would pick. But I think it would be a better look for people following the tour if it was more similar so it was easier to follow along with what's going on, rather than different things every week.

Speaker 2:

Final question with Bob.

Speaker 9:

Adam, your last win, which was here, was only a few weeks before COVID and obviously as disruptive as that was in general, was it particularly momentum killing for you. It seemed like you were on a really good spot at that point and maybe had more trouble than others kind of getting back. I just wondered if you ever reflect on that and how it might have impacted you.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, probably. Yeah, I think I was playing great at the time when I won and I think I was top ten kind of in the world and trending in a good direction. Yeah, covid was tricky, because I think not living in the United States through that period was quite tough. I spent a lot of time quarantining I think it was 16 or 18 weeks in the end through the COVID period, so that was probably detrimental. A lot of time wasted in a sense, not being productive for anything. I think it has been. I have found it tougher to get back. I'm not complaining. I mean everyone faced difficulties, but I sit here and I feel good about my game today and hopefully I'm on the path back to some high level golf.

Speaker 2:

Appreciate the time. Adam, good luck this week.

Speaker 3:

Thank you.

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Speaker 6:

All right, we'll get started. We'd like to welcome 2021 Genesis Invitational winner, max Homa, into the interview room. Max, could we just get an opening comment from you at your return to Riviera Country Club for consecutive top 10s at this event coming?

Speaker 10:

in. Yeah, this is one of my favorite places on the planet. It's my favorite tour stop. It's cool. I'm kind of like double defending because you know last two, I have like the last champion that's still here, which is sweet, but I enjoy coming here. It was fun. I got to see one of my buddies, zach, last night. Just get to do you know, friend and family stuff. I haven't been back here in a while just for fun. So it's cool.

Speaker 10:

Get in to come to an event that's in your you know, really close to your hometown and feel like you're you know, almost obviously not a vacation, but it just kind of like a little homecoming for me, and it helps that this is my favorite golf course we play, so it's just a treat to always be back here.

Speaker 6:

All right, we'll take some questions out here. If you have a question, we'll get a microphone to you. Questions for Max. We'll start with Jeff over here on the left.

Speaker 7:

So, max, it's your favorite golf course.

Speaker 6:

I'm over here, it's okay, sorry, sorry On the aisle over here. Oh, it is.

Speaker 7:

What is it about it that you love, compared to so many other places you play? And because you like it, I mean, obviously your record's fantastic, but does that add a little extra pressure? Do you ever find yourself trying a little bit too hard here?

Speaker 10:

For the second part of that question. I used to. I got lucky and got a couple sponsors here my first couple years as a pro and I definitely felt like this is you know, this is a major to me and you know it felt like I was really trying to do my best in front of my friends and family, although I know they don't care. That's why last year was hard, just because I felt like I was finally playing well and had everybody out and didn't quite finish it. So I've gotten kind of past the trying hard part. It's my favorite, just because it doesn't have really a hazard. It doesn't really have a lot of bounds. It really comes into play, maybe a couple shots and it's just hard. It's not crazy long. Obviously the air doesn't make the ball go super far, so it plays long and it's one of those few golf courses I think that can play soft or firm and still be pretty stout test. It's better when it's firm, but it can still be a stout test. Something about the cacuya in front of the greens that you can't bounce the ball up.

Speaker 10:

Precision is mega-rewarded and there's certain holes. I'm always fascinated with the fifth hole. It's the best example. But if you put the pin. You could change the pin by 35 feet, 40 feet between one round and the next. I'd love to know what the scoring average is, because if you put it on the middle left side, it's one of the easiest second shots you'll have. And you put the pin on the front right or back right and it's not that far away and it's all of a sudden just, I hope I make par. So I love that they can do that with just pin positions. They don't need a lot of weather help for it and I just I'm not a golf architect expert here, but that's just what I noticed about this place.

Speaker 7:

Did you notice a little tinkering on 10 today, and will that change your strategy there at all?

Speaker 10:

Yeah, actually it was pretty fascinating again with what they do around here and I guess the beauty of it. But if someone hadn't told me it would be pretty hard to notice. Now that someone pointed out I saw it. It won't change strategy at all, but that was pretty neat what they did there. Same with 15, but it's so subtle I think it would be hard. They didn't change the hole too much and I think that's great. They softened it a little bit. But I really don't think I would have noticed too much if someone hadn't pointed it out yesterday, before I even played it.

Speaker 6:

You had a question.

Speaker 12:

Jim Hill from KKL9, how you doing Good to see you again With all of the things that you were talking about with this course, does this course make you think a lot more than maybe you do on some other courses because of all the things you were talking about?

Speaker 10:

I think actually the reason I've been successful here is for whatever reason. I just see this place really well and I actually think my brain is awful a lot more. I know where it's good, I know where it's bad, but I also know when I'm in a bad spot where you go next. So part of it I don't know, maybe from walking this golf course as a kid forever, and it may be just by osmosis I learned a bit about it. But yeah, it's weird, it can make you think, but it's become, in a good way, autopilot for me. If I just look at a pin sheet, I would be able to play any scenario out better. I think everybody out here has a course or courses that they feel that way about. Mine just happens to be here.

Speaker 6:

We'll go to Dan over here on the left and then up to Mark. Please, Dan, go ahead.

Speaker 4:

What do you remember most about the battle last year with John?

Speaker 10:

Man I don't know about the most. I remember the 13th hole. We both snap hooked it and his ended up fine and mine was so bad, so for some reason that sticks out. I remember how fun it was. It really was. I'm a namer by John's golf game. He's just tremendous.

Speaker 10:

I just remember telling myself Sunday he had a lead. I didn't play well Saturday. I kept myself in the final group but I didn't play well and he played awesome, really awesome. I just remember my whole goal Sunday, driving in, was I'm going to make him feel my presence today and he's going to have to beat me. If he does, I'm going to get to watch some pretty darn good golf. That's what he did.

Speaker 10:

He played really well. He had so many great shots and things that you would remember. He made a long put on 14. He almost made a home one on 16. He did a bunch of amazing stuff, but that's the stuff you would expect.

Speaker 10:

I just remembered, like the I don't know just the joy of getting to push somebody who I find to be one of the best call for his all ever see and feel like you know for a minute there he, I got him pretty nervous and it felt good. I would like, obviously, to have won and I would like to win more going forward, but I do need to take a positive in that that you know he had a three shot lead, I think, and I mean for a minute there I had him. So it's just cool to be able to keep that in your back pocket and take that and learn and hopefully, you know, become a better player than him at some point. But, as it was last year, he's going to be number one player in the world and it was fun to really battle with somebody who was the best player in the world.

Speaker 4:

You feel like that's something you'll remember as you get gray and older, like those days, like that.

Speaker 10:

Yeah, I think it's easy to sit here now and try to puff my chest out and say I was so disappointed in myself. And why would you ever think to yourself? I was just happy to be there and to try my best, or whatever. But I do think that that I mean I couldn't have done a whole lot more that day. I really dug in and fought real hard and thought I did a great job. It's just he played better. So I do think that when I'm older, sit in a rocking chair telling stories of people that don't want to listen to me, that will be one that comes out.

Speaker 6:

We'll go to Mark right here and then to Kier.

Speaker 13:

Hey Max, knowing what Tiger has meant to you and what it meant for him to hand you the trophy, I'm just kind of curious how the vibe of this week changes for you and with him out here playing and seemingly looking pretty healthy.

Speaker 10:

I'm just happy to see the man not limping as much. Yeah, I mean, it's just great. Every event is better when Tiger's here. It's pretty amazing what he brings to an event with his presence on the golf course. Obviously, it's great that he's had his name attached to this, but you want to see him play. All the fans want to see him play. I don't think it changes a whole lot. It just makes the event feel a bit bigger. Yeah, and I don't know, it's just always. They always say like, especially when you're a rookie, your first tour event is until you play Farmers because Tiger's there. That's when it actually starts to feel like what you watched on TV. So it's something about that. When he's around it, the event feels you have less people watching you play golf, but there are more people watching golf, which is cool.

Speaker 6:

Kira.

Speaker 14:

Max, you alluded to the fact that you're essentially double defending due to the current landscape of golf. Last week you spoke about the SSG investment. How much is equity groups and investments in the future of golf dominating your brain space right now versus actually playing golf?

Speaker 10:

About a one out of a hundred, I would say. My focus is on hopefully being a part of a group of golfers who can entertain the fans best we can. All that stuff is great. It's way over my head, it's above my pay grade. I just hope that everything that comes from this is tailored to making golf more fun to watch, more fun to be at and just I mean like growing the game through this.

Speaker 10:

Whatever this investment will do, I hope that it's for, of course, they want to make money back, but I hope it's for a purpose to bring not only bring more eyeballs to golf, but also, like, keep the eyeballs we've got and make it better. Because people spend a lot of their time watching golf on TV or watching sports on TV and you'd want it to evolve, to continue to be tailored to that person, Because they're investing time and energy and emotion into something and you want them to get that back. You watch something like the Super Bowl and there's a reason people are so invested in it. It's because it's a culmination of a year of even when you don't care about the teams a lot. It's like you feel what they feel and you're sucked in as a fan. I just want, whatever that may be. I want more of that for the fans and less of less distraction from the point of this, which is to bring people some kind of joy or some kind of emotion on Saturdays and Sundays.

Speaker 11:

We'll go to Christian in the second row. Max, speaking of distractions, do you pay for Twitter? No, and that could be like a decent little side hustle for you with the engagement you get. Have you, given that, any thought to why you may or may not pay for it?

Speaker 10:

To sound like the worst ever. I have enough money not to have to side hustle on my least favorite app in the world, so I'm good on that. Less engagement is fine.

Speaker 6:

Any other questions for Max? All right. Well, thank you for your time and best of luck this week. Thank you, guys.

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Speaker 15:

We'll get that mic to Ryan in the back row and we'll go with Todd right here in the front.

Speaker 16:

Tiger, do you see PIF as having the ability to add further to what you guys want to do, in addition to SSG?

Speaker 17:

Yeah, I mean, ultimately we would like to have PIF be a part of our tour and be a part of our product, but financially we don't now. So with SSG and the amount of money that they have come to the table with and what we initially had agreed to in the framework agreement, those are all the same numbers. So anything beyond this is going to be obviously over and above, and we're in a great position right now and hopefully we can make our product better in the short term and long term.

Speaker 16:

Just follow up on Doug asking you about here. So what is the frustration level of not winning here, given that you won everywhere around the world? Yeah, like, how frustrating is that?

Speaker 17:

It is frustrating in the sense that this is a golf course that has been, to me, been very comfortable individually. As I said, it's a fader's delight from the tee shots and I have, as I said, a pretty good iron player, but for some reason I just haven't put it together at this event other than one time with a chance, but for some reason this hasn't happened and hopefully it will be this week.

Speaker 16:

And the frustration.

Speaker 17:

Obviously you can see that and you're asking me the question.

Speaker 15:

Let's get that mark to clear and in the meantime we'll go back to Ron in the middle here. Hi.

Speaker 18:

Tiger. Two parts here, kind of random One, what's Josh Allen's game like? And then two how did Lance end up on your bag?

Speaker 17:

Josh's game is considering what he does for a living and the pounding that he takes on his body, the fact that he's been able to play this game and you can see the enjoyment that he has and the addiction that he has for the game of golf and he has unbelievable questions about how he can get better that only athletes really can ask those type of questions and that's what's needed about being able to play with athletes and see how their brain works. And we're very similar across the board. Whether we're playing football or golf or baseball. How we look at things are very consistent as far as Lance is concerned.

Speaker 17:

Lance, I've had a great relationship with him over the years, going back to when he came for coach and when we played at the presence cup together back at Mirfield Village. In all the years that we've been on Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups together and the times I've been able to have played with him in the same groups, very down earth, very loyal, and how he has conversated with his players through the years I've taken notice of that and we've had the same type of feels. And how we look at the golf course and how we read putts they're very similar. I think it's a great team and we look forward to the challenge Go to.

Speaker 15:

Ryan in the back row and then we'll come to the front Tiger straight back, Right in the back.

Speaker 9:

There's been a lot of debate recently about reunification in the game and kind of the best ways to do that. What's your opinion on a potential pathway back to the PGA Tour?

Speaker 4:

for live players.

Speaker 17:

We're looking into all the different models for pathways back, what that looks like, what the impact is for the players who have stayed and who have not left, and how we make our product better going forward. There is no answer to that right now. We're looking at very different, varying degrees of ideas and what that looks like in the short term we don't know. We don't know in the long term what that looks like, but trust me, there's daily, weekly emails and talks about this and what this looks like for our tour going forward.

Speaker 15:

We'll go down here in the front right Tiger, and then we'll go to the back Tiger. From a technical perspective, what are you working on in your swing to make sure it's competition ready?

Speaker 17:

I think that, more than anything that I try and do from a technical standpoint is making sure I can still hit the golf ball flush and solid. I don't have the same speed I used to have, I don't have the ability to practice the same amount of hours, but I still do work on making sure I can hit the ball out of the middle of the face. If I can do that consistently one of the reasons why I really don't have a coach right now. What my body does from day to day, week to week, this looks kind of different. I can't really model myself or fit any kind of model. A lot of it is based on my hands and my feel, and I have built this golf swing for the last few years four or five years based on my hands and what that feels like, and sometimes it doesn't look pretty, but I can still hit the ball flush. We'll go to Jim in the back.

Speaker 15:

Tiger.

Speaker 12:

Jim Hill KK Welcome to the back here buddy Jim good to see you again. How emotional can this be? Or will this be when you consider for you? Basically, this is where it all started.

Speaker 17:

It's been full circle for us for me to have come out here when I was what? Seven, eight years old, whatever it was, when Lanny went away, and to come out here and play in my first tour event and my first introduction to the tour, and then for us, whatever it is, 20-some, odd years, 25 years later, to have the foundation actually run and be in control of the event I'm actually hosting and playing. So it's an incredible weekend. It's a great week for all of us. We'll go to Bob.

Speaker 9:

Bob Harry, hi Tiger, two things. Have you personally met or spoken with anyone from the public investment fund, including Yasser?

Speaker 17:

No, I have not.

Speaker 9:

Do you have a sense for what their goal is or what their end game is in all of this From what their representatives have discussed with us?

Speaker 17:

yes and no, Because that changes and that evolves from a few months ago to what it is currently now.

Speaker 9:

Is that good or bad from your standpoint? How it's changed?

Speaker 17:

I don't know if it's good or bad. I think it's an ongoing fluid process.

Speaker 15:

We have another one up in the back. Can't see who. It is sorry, hey, tiger Jim Gray.

Speaker 8:

Tiger, I was wondering if having your ankle fused diminishes the pain that you have when you play and if you could also describe your love of the game now in a different physical state as compared to when you were whole.

Speaker 17:

Yeah, my ankle doesn't hurt anymore because, no, the bones are rubbing anymore, but then again it's different than other parts of my body have to take the brunt of it. Just like my back is fused and so other parts of my body have taken the brunt over that and have two different body parts that are now fused. Yeah, other parts of the body have to adapt. And as far as the love, the love I still love competing, I love playing, I love being a part of the game of golf. This is the game of a lifetime and I don't ever want to stop playing. I love being able to compete, I love being able to enjoy different conversations from across time and, for instance, like today, being able to play with two great athletes. The cross-pollination that happens with other sports and with this game. I love that, I love having it and I don't ever want to lose that.

Speaker 15:

We got time for a few more. We'll go with Tom right in front here, right in front.

Speaker 9:

Tiger, you're playing tomorrow with Gary. You gave an exemption. What will that mean to you playing with him, considering what he has gone through and, I guess, relating it to you? You've gone through different things, but serious.

Speaker 17:

I think that what Gary has gone through, I don't think people have really given it enough play. I think we have enough conversation about what he's gone through and how difficult life was for Gary and how scary that was. Each and every moment he's afraid of dying and the anxiety of that and to have a surgery and remove a tumor out of his brain and to come back and play the tour. That's an unbelievable story and I think that we should applaud him for what he's been able to overcome. And I can't wait he's been one of my great friends over the years and to be able to play with two great friends tomorrow. We're going to have a great time. We're obviously going to be kneeling each other, but it's a great kneeling the fact that we're able to do it, the fact that he's here and is able to give us the needle. It's fantastic, because that was a scary time when we didn't know what that was going to look like.

Speaker 15:

Three more lined up, one over the side. First Go ahead.

Speaker 18:

Some new gear for you. So far this week, new prototype Sunday red shoes and it looks like you're testing between the old Sim three wood and the new tailing made QI 10 tour with the new shaft. Curious about your thoughts on the shoes and your thoughts on the new three wood.

Speaker 17:

Well, the three wood is in play. I feel very comfortable with the three wood. I had to find the right shaft for it and decided to switch the shafts and go with what I have on my driver, so it's consistent. My five was different. It's old, it's a little beat up but it still works. But the three wood, I wanted to find something that I could draw a little bit better and this one is definitely that. And as far as the shoes go, I had to make a slight adjustment. Yesterday I was putting some nails in as far as traction, being at home in Florida and testing in Florida, it was very different than coming out here and playing off a slope and playing off a wet grass and having the detraction I needed. So I will put some nails in. Yesterday and it's been been working.

Speaker 16:

Okay, we'll go to Mark in the middle here, tiger, with the negotiations with the PIF.

Speaker 1:

How much of an issue is team golf and what is your opinion on team golf?

Speaker 17:

fitting into the future sport. Yeah, how team golf is? It's going to be a part of the tour. It is part of the tour. We had TGL. So what that looks like as far as official events goes, we don't know what that looks like yet as of now. As far as off night, one night events, what tomorrow golf league provides it is team golf. It's going to be entertaining. Now, whether or not we can transform that or put that together with official events, we don't know what that looks like, and that's one of the reasons why we have SSG to be a part of what that could possibly look like. And how does that even look like? And how does it even look like with our PIF negotiations as well?

Speaker 15:

Okay, Tiger, we're going to wrap it up with one question from Jasmine on the side of the room.

Speaker 19:

Hi, tiger, this tournament impacts your foundation, and this question is from one of your TGL learning lab students, who is also an aspiring sports media professional, and his question is why is it important for you to provide resources and opportunities to students who don't have access to them at school or home? And then, as a follow up to that, he wants to know what message do you want to send to your TGL learning lab students?

Speaker 17:

You know, without the ability or availability and access to the information that is afforded to a lot of the kids who have come from more comforting backgrounds, you know, a lot of these kids don't have the availability to make the leaps and be and transform their families.

Speaker 17:

And that's what our foundation is trying to do and that's why we're trying to provide either learning labs or curriculum. They provide access to that availability and they provide encouragement of what that looks like. And it's been a long road for all of us to try and get to this point, trying to help as many kids as we possibly can. And with our learning lab I think we've had you know, I'm near 200,000 kids that we have served currently, and our expansion into Philly and then to here in Greater Los Angeles area and the Lula's Place. These are all things that how are we going to get back and how are we going to make our society better, and that's what we're trying to do and without you know, all of you here or without a term like this, we wouldn't be able to have those opportunities. So I just want to say thank you for all of that.

Speaker 15:

And we want to say thank you to everyone for attending and thank you, todd, again for being a host and competing this week. Thanks again, appreciate it, you're welcome.

Speaker 1:

So there you have it. There are the interviews live from Riviera Country Club tournament underway and we'll see what happens this weekend. Some events have already occurred. I don't want to be a spoiler for you, so we'll just let you watch the tournament and check it out and we'll be back next week with the PGA Tour Countdown Rap Show. I think probably. Yeah, we will. We'll be back with a rap show. Anyway, for the PGA Tour Countdown broadcast team and producing team, all the folks that helped me stumble through the shows, appreciate it very much for our listeners out there. We thank you ever so much for listening to the show and remember. So what was I going to remember? I don't know. I said remember something, did not remember to have a good time this weekend. Enjoy the tournament, see ya.

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