Tiger Woods Is a New Member of the PGA Tour Policy Board, But Without a Term
To many, Tiger Woods is the GOAT.
So it was not a surprise when the now-48-year-old was asked by the players to become one of now six player directors on the PGA Tour Policy Board.
What was a surprise was how the 2024 Player Advisory Council was announced on Sunday with five of the six player directors (Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, Patrick Cantlay, Peter Malnati and Webb Simpson) listed with three-year terms, but Woods listed without a term length.
PRESS RELEASE: PGA TOUR announces 2024 Player Advisory Council pic.twitter.com/Hpb4qDUrq7
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) January 28, 2024
According to a Tour spokesperson, a term has not been determined for Woods.
The bylaws or corporate documents would outline the term of a player director and while not made public, it seems farfetched to believe that such controlling documents allow for terms to be designated for certain player directors and not others.
It’s not illegal or unusual for terms not to be set for board members in nonprofits, but according to some advisors it’s not the best way to proceed.
According to a Leading with Intent study by Board Source, a nonprofit leadership group, 87.5% of all nonprofits have term limits with the most common structure being two consecutive three-year terms.
Grant Thornton, a tax and advisory services firm and PGA Tour sponsor, outlines on its website five reasons that healthy boards need term limits for nonprofits boards, with one clear reason for terms being that boards which do not continually recruit for and cultivate leaders are at a significant disadvantage.
Not only does Woods not have a listed term, but neither do any of the five independent directors: Ed Herlihy, Jimmy Dunne, Mark Flaherty, Joe Gorder and Mary Meeker.
Former board member Rory McIlroy learned of Woods's status when seeing the press release announcing the PAC.
McIlroy believes Woods's status in the game and his importance to the PGA Tour is reason enough for the 15-time major winner to have a place on the board without a specific term.