“He’s the hardest one to convince,” Jay Monahan claims Tiger Woods wants to ‘earn his way’ in golf events following The Players Championship snub

Tiger Woods last played at The Players Championship in 2019.

“He’s the hardest one to convince,” Jay Monahan claims Tiger Woods wants to ‘earn his way’ in golf events following The Players Championship snub

Jay Monahan (L) and Tiger Woods (R) [Image via Imago]

This week, the golfing action returns to TPC Sawgrass as the players get ready for the 50th The Players Championship. An elevated field of big names for this signature event is missing one marquee name, Tiger Woods.

Following his return to golf in November 2023, Tiger Woods claimed that he would play in one tournament per month. However, he won’t be playing this month as he snubbed The Players Championship. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan would later reveal a reason the reason why he was not playing in this event.

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Monahan on Tuesday spoke on several topics at the annual press conference before the Players Championship. In this he was asked whether there could have some special exemption for Woods. The 53-year-old official smiled off the question and claimed the golf veteran would not like that as he wants to ‘earn his way‘ in.

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I think you all know Tiger well enough to know that he wants to earn his way into every competition...But I think as you go forward, as you evolve as an organization, you think about how do you serve and satisfy a rabid fan base?... I'm sure we would have that discussion. But he'd be the hardest one to convince.
Jay Monahan on Tiger Woods.

Woods last appeared at the Players Championship in 2019. This year would thus mark five years since he last took to the field at the iconic event where he emerged victorious twice in his grand career (2001 and 2013).

Will Tiger Woods be part of The Masters event in April following snub from The Players Championship?

The Players Championship is one of the most important event in the golfing calendar. Many fans and experts have opined it to be declared as the fifth major of the year. So Tiger Woods missing such a historic event has started to cast doubts regarding his participation at The Masters.

Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods (Image via Imago)

Woods has a lifetime exemption at the Augusta National due to his status as past champion. The golf legend was even part of the playing field last year. However, he withdraw from the event after suffering from an ankle injury.

His last official PGA Tour appearance came at the Genesis Invitational where he took part as the host. Unfortunately, fans were unable to see him play the entire event as he was once again forced to take out his name, this time due to an illness.

Woods has so far not commented anything on him missing the previous two signature events. He though recently took part in the Seminole Pro-Am alongside some big names, which has given fans some optimism that the 48-year-old veteran will be playing in the first major of the year.

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