Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and the PGA Tour Board Drama Explained
Tiger Woods’s Voted Against the Return of Rory McIlroy to the PGA Tour Board
What’s Happening in the Golf World?
In golf news, it appears one of the top players on the PGA Tour, Rory McIlroy, is persona non-grata as a member of its board. McIlroy vacated his chair in November citing time constraints but volunteered to return after Webb Simpson announced he too would be leaving.
Thanks, But No Thanks
Webb Simpson recently offered to give up his seat as one of six player-directors on the PGA Board, contingent on Rory McIlroy replacing him. McIlroy accepted the invitation but it was soon made clear by the powers that be that he would not be filling that role. Tiger Woods is rumored to be one of those dissenting powers after a rift with McIlroy regarding negotiation strategies with LIV Golf.
Rory McIlroy explained that there was a “subset of people who were uncomfortable” with him rejoining the PGA Tour policy board, and it appears Tiger Woods was among the group that didn’t want to see him retake his seat at the table.
READ: https://t.co/gsg1C5nTp6 pic.twitter.com/6ZsbKuW3eg
— OutKick (@Outkick) May 9, 2024
McIlroy, one of the organization’s most high-profile players and one who routinely sits atop the PGA leaderboard, said, “I think it just … it got pretty complicated and pretty messy and I think with the way it happened, I think it opened up some old wounds and scar tissue from things that have happened before.”
“I think there was a subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason … I think Webb just stays on and sees out his term, and I think he’s gotten to a place where he’s comfortable with doing that and I just sort of keep doing what I’m doing. So yeah, I put my hand up to help and it was — I wouldn’t say it was rejected, it was a complicated process to get through to put me back on there. So that’s all fine, no hard feelings and we’ll all move on,” he added.
Sleeping With the Enemy
LIV Golf, the upstart Saudi-backed golf organization, has used its limitless supply of money from its PIF fund to woo PGA stars into its fold. Jon Rahm was the latest notable defection, accepting a staggering $450 million to leave the PGA and join the LIV ranks.
.@JonRahmOfficial gets Round 2 started in a soggy Singapore #LIVGolf @LegionXIIIgc pic.twitter.com/Qf8gd2GaPK
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) May 4, 2024
After a year of litigation between the PGA and LIV, the two decided to put their differences aside and merge. However, after nearly a year since the legal armistice, nothing has manifested and the PGA recently received a $1.5 billion cash infusion from Strategic Sports Group led by Fenway Sports and Red Sox owner, John Henry, as well as Mets owner Steve Cohen, and other professional sports franchise owners.
LIV Golf was not happy with the recent developments and speculation has surfaced that the legal framework between golf’s superpowers could be in jeopardy and the future partners could be at odds once again. However, McIlroy believed he could be instrumental in bridging the gap between the one-time and, perhaps, soon-to-be arch-rivals.
🚨⚔️😮 #NEW: Sources tell @GolfDigest that Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods were among the PGA TOUR player directors who didn’t wish to welcome Rory McIlroy back to the policy board. @TrackingRory @TWlegion pic.twitter.com/cbhi6Yh5Sv
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) May 8, 202
In April, McIlroy was asked about replacing Webb on the board and said, “I don’t think there’s been much progress made in the last eight months, and I was hopeful that there would be. I think I could be helpful to the process. But only if people want me involved.”
Apparently, McIlroy’s help is not wanted as Tiger Woods has been chosen as the point man for negotiations with the Saudis going forward. Webb Simpson has stated he will serve out his term.
