2 weeks Ago By Mark Whiley
Tiger Woods can scratch off one potential lure to join the controversial LIV Golf circuit following a startling regulation revision by the upstart Saudi-funded league. The insurgent series disrupted the golfing establishment in 2022, adopting unconventional formats such as shotgun starts, three-round events, and eliminating cuts. LIV Golf also shook up the sport's wardrobe rules, permitting competitors to don shorts instead of the traditional trousers during play — a change warmly received by numerous players defecting to LIV, including Ryder Cup standout Lee Westwood, who enthused: "I prefer to get my legs out.
" Nonetheless, with the commencement of the 2025 season under Riyadh's gleaming night sky, it looks like the days of bare legs are over. Rory McIlroy's emotional message from wife and daughter after PGA Tour win Bryson DeChambeau teases reunion with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy LIV original Pat Perez, who has transitioned to the tour's broadcasting team, divulged on the LIV's Fairway To Heaven podcast: "I've heard the players are wearing pants all year." For Woods , who staunchly advocated for the adoption of shorts at professional events due to torrid weather conditions back in 2018, this reversal from LIV would hardly be appealing.
"I would love it," he expressed, highlighting the intense heat players face. "We play in some of the hottest climates on the planet. "We usually travel with the sun, and a lot of our events are in the summer, and then on top of that when we have winter months here, a lot of the guys will go down to South Africa and where it's summer down there.
" "A lot of the tournaments are based right around the equator, so we play in some of the hottest places on the planet. It would be nice to wear shorts. Even with my little chicken legs, I still would like to wear shorts.
" Despite this preference, PGA Tour rules currently permit players to wear shorts only during practice and pro-am rounds, not in official competition rounds. DON'T MISS Rory McIlroy gives timeline for PGA and LIV Golf merger as Saudi talks continue Scottie Scheffler responds to Rory McIlroy jibe ahead of PGA Tour injury return TGL enjoys spike in viewership but TV ratings still down from Tiger Woods debut In other golf news, discussions about a possible merger involving LIV's sponsors and the PGA Tour are still underway, with former President Donald Trump stepping into the fray. This week, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott met with Trump as part of ongoing efforts to negotiate a deal between the US-based circuit, the DP World Tour, and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which finances LIV.
Since the signing of a preliminary agreement in June 2023, talks have continued. A recent statement issued on Thursday on behalf of Monahan, Scott, and fellow player director Woods read: "We know golf fans are eagerly anticipating a resolution to negotiations with the Public Investment Fund and want to thank President Trump for his interest and long-time support of the game of golf." "We asked the President to get involved for the good of the game, the good of the country, and for all the countries involved.
We are grateful that his leadership has brought us closer to a final deal, paving the way for reunification of men's professional golf.".
