Tiger Woods will be the only player on a five-member subcommittee negotiating with the Public Investment Fund. This is part of a hectic day of governance as the PGA Tour attempts to reach an agreement with LIV Golf’s Saudi sponsors.

Woods was appointed to the PGA Tour board in August, becoming the sixth player-director and the only one with an unlimited term.

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Tiger Woods To Be The Only Player On The Negotiation Committee With Saudis.

According to the tour, Woods will serve on the “transaction subcommittee” of the PGA Tour Enterprises board, which will manage day-to-day negotiations as PIF attempts to become a minority partner.

The subcommittee includes PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, board chairman Joe Gorder, John W. Henry of Fenway Sports Group, and Joe Ogilvie, a former tour player named director liaison in March.

The subcommittee reports back to the entire board.

The developments concluded a day that began with Rory McIlroy losing his inside track on returning to the board as Webb Simpson’s successor after board members opposed his return.

“I think there was a subset of people on the board who were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason,” McIlroy said at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, a $20 million marquee tournament.Simpson had offered to quit, but only if McIlroy replaced him. When a player director resigns, the remaining players on the board must unanimously agree on a replacement. McIlroy resigned from the board in November, and the players chose Jordan Spieth as his replacement.

The seven players — Woods, Spieth, Simpson, Ogilvie, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott, and Peter Malnati — serve on the boards of the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Enterprises, the business organization that signed an agreement with Strategic Sports Group as a minority partner.

That contract included a $1.5 billion investment, which may rise to $3 billion.

McIlroy was eager to return, hoping he could help find a solution to golf’s schism, which has left some of the top players on two tours. McIlroy sees reunification in some form as the ultimate aim and offended players earlier this year when he recommended that LIV players return without penalties.

“Today’s news is in no way a commentary on Rory’s important perspective and influence,” Monahan said. “It’s simply a matter of following our governance process when a tour player becomes a board member.

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Tiger Woods To Be The Only Player On The Negotiation Committee With Saudis.

“Webb remaining in his position as a member of the policy board and PGA Tour Enterprises board through the end of his term provides the continuity needed at this vital time,” he stated. “We are making progress in our negotiations with the PIF.”

Given his two years on the board and his influence in the game, McIlroy is almost certain to remain involved in an unofficial manner. He was the sole European Tour member on the PGA Tour board, and he has built contacts across continents throughout his career.

On a British soccer podcast earlier this year, he stated that he met with the PIF governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, during the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in late 2022, then returned home and persuaded the tour board to meet with him.

The PGA Tour, European Tour, and PIF announced a framework agreement on June 6, with a deadline of the end of 2023. Negotiations continue with little progress.

Woods, along with Monahan and Henry, was one of the player directors who traveled to the Bahamas on March 18 to meet with Al-Rumayyan.

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Tiger Woods To Be The Only Player On The Negotiation Committee With Saudis.

At the Masters, Woods stated of that meeting, “I’m not sure if we’re closer, but we’re definitely on the right track.” That was a pretty productive meeting, and I believe both parties left feeling good.

Gorder is chairman and CEO of Valero, the Texas Open’s title sponsor. He has been selected as the first chairman of the PGA Tour Enterprises board.

SOURCE – (AP)

TORONTO– Sheldon Keefe was sacked as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, following another early exit from the NHL playoffs.

The move was expected following Toronto’s Game 7 loss to rival Boston last weekend, the team’s fourth first-round loss in five years under Sheldon. The Maple Leafs have won only one playoff series since Sheldon took charge in November 2019.

“Today’s decision was difficult,” general manager Brad Treliving stated. “Sheldon is a fantastic coach and a kind man. However, we felt that a new voice was required to help the team push through to achieve our ultimate goal.”

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Toronto Maple Leafs Fire Coach Sheldon Keefe After Another Early Playoff Exit.

Following the league’s 18th coaching change since the completion of the 2022-23 season, the team announced that the hunt for Keefe’s replacement will begin immediately. Treliving and other members of management are set to speak to media on Friday about the coaching change and other end-of-season issues.

Keefe, 43, joined the club in 2015 as coach of the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies, largely due to his junior hockey connections to then-assistant general manager Kyle Dubas, who was elevated and served as GM for five seasons before being fired last year. Sheldon took over for Mike Babcock after Dubas dismissed him a few weeks into the 2019-20 season.

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Toronto Maple Leafs Fire Coach Sheldon Keefe After Another Early Playoff Exit.

Some good regular seasons and playoff appearances followed, but little extra to show for it. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Morgan Rielly, and John Tavares led the Leafs, who were Keefe’s coach, to a 16-21 playoff record.

Earlier this week, Keefe stated that, while he accepts responsibility for not meeting goals, he has never been more confident in the group’s and his potential to succeed.

“Now more than ever, I believe in myself and our team,” Keefe stated. I believe that I will win, and our team will win.”

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Toronto Maple Leafs Fire Coach Sheldon Keefe After Another Early Playoff Exit.

They will do so if they win in Toronto under a different coach. Craig Berube, winner of the 2019 Stanley Cup, former Minnesota coach Dean Evason, and former Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan are among the experienced alternatives.

SOURCE – (AP)

ROME — Naomi Osaka looked comfortable in her first match at the Italian Open, defeating 45th-ranked Clara Burel 7-6 (2), 6-1 on Wednesday.

Osaka’s first clay-court victory was since beating Victoria Azarenka at the French Open in 2019.

Osaka was pleased with how she remained mentally focused after surrendering her serve while serving for the opening set at 5-3.

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Osaka Plays Solidly In Her Opening Match At The Italian Open. Darderi Eliminates Shapovalov

“Just being able to hang in there and eventually close it on my terms is something that I’m very proud of myself for,” she stated.

It’s also Osaka’s first time playing in Rome since 2019 when she reached the quarterfinals.

Osaka, who was once ranked No. 1 but is now No. 173 following a maternity leave, served eight aces and produced 27 victories to her opponent’s 10. She will next face 19th-seeded Marta Kostyuk, who recently advanced to the final of a clay event in Stuttgart, Germany.

Bernarda Pera defeated Caroline Dolehide 7-6 (6), 6-3, and will now face top-ranked Iga Swiatek; Magda Linette defeated Zhu Lin 6-3, 6-2; Brenda Fruhvirtova defeated Taylor Townsend 3-6, 6-2, 6-0; and Lesia Tsurenko defeated Donna Vekic 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5).

In men’s competition, Argentine-born Italian Luciano Darderi upset Denis Shapovalov 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (4) at Campo Centrale; Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro defeated Gael Monfils 6-2, 7-5; and Yoshihito Nishioka defeated Sebastian Ofner 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (4).

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Osaka Plays Solidly In Her Opening Match At The Italian Open. Darderi Eliminates Shapovalov

Several more games were postponed owing to rain.

Rafael Nadal, the record 10-time Rome champion, faces Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs on Thursday.

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic, who is also returning to Rome after a month away, is in the opposite half of the draw from Nadal. However, second-ranked Jannik Sinner and third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz withdrew due to injury.

Former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini also withdrew, citing physical difficulties.

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Osaka Plays Solidly In Her Opening Match At The Italian Open. Darderi Eliminates Shapovalov

The Italian federation also stated that Camila Giorgi, an Italian who was formerly ranked as high as No. 26 and won a WTA 1000 event in Montreal in 2021, has retired.

Rome is the final major warm-up tournament before the French Open, which begins on May 26.

SOURCE – (AP)