Tiger Woods in 'Deep Discussions' to Play Series of Matches in Asia This Fall

Tiger Woods' agent has announced his client is in "deep discussions" to play a series of televised matches in Asia during the fall, with the first to take place in Japan. 

Per ESPN's Bob Harig, the agent, Mark Steinberg, told reporters the format for the one-day competition is yet to be determined:

"We are in pretty deep discussions about doing that and Japan would be ideal to do the first one. It might not be a traditional head-to-head match. It might be something more unique.

"We haven't put together what the field will look like. How big would the field be? What type of format would they play? The exact date? We'd like to do it around the first-ever PGA Tour event in Japan."

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

As explained by Harig, Woods has refrained from playing in the fall for years, but Steinberg said he could play in one of the three PGA Tour events that will take place in Asia:

"We would not disrespect a PGA Tour event. There's a chance we could do something in another market in Asia.

"He's gotten behind (in FedEx Cup points) in the past. Because of his health, his age and everything, he's being very smart and strategic about when he's going to play. But playing in one of those would help him not get behind. And there seem to be more and more events that are being added. So, yes, it could help."

This year's Asian leg of the PGA Tour includes the new ZoZo Championship in Japan, which starts on October 24. The other tournaments are the CJ Cup in South Korea and the WGC HSBC Champions in China, per Harig.

The Asia matches will be part of Woods' Discovery endorsement deal, and David Zaslav, head of the company, revealed the plans last week, per sportswriter Joel Beal:

As noted by Harig, GolfTV's market does not include the United States, and it's unclear whether these events will be available for viewing for American audiences.

Steinberg also said the matches will not affect a potential second head-to-head battle between Woods and Phil Mickelson. The two met in Las Vegas in November of last year, with Mickelson taking the win after 22 holes.

Woods is currently playing in the Masters, where he opened with a round of two-under on Thursday, four shots off the lead.