Rory McIlroy will NOT return to PGA Tour board after 'old wounds' reopened in 'messy' discussions

Release time：2024-05-09 10:09:04 Source：World Walkthrough news portal

Rory McIlroy's plan to rejoin the PGA Tour's influential policy board has been killed off after he revealed old 'wounds' had opened in discussions around how to move forward in golf's civil war.

The world No 2 admitted recently that he was open to stepping back into the political fray just five months after giving up his position on the six-strong player board in exasperation.

But after holding talks over a return, it has become clear that his vision of a merger with the Saudi backers of the LIV circuit did not align with significant elements of the group, which is comprised of Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Peter Malnati, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth and Webb Simpson.

It is understood McIlroy and Cantlay in particular do not see eye to eye, with McIlroy firmly of the view that a deal with the Saudis is essential to stopping the hostilities of the past two years. Woods and Spieth have also previously stated that a collaboration with Saudi Arabia is not essential.

In comments that laid bare the internal divide within the PGA Tour, McIlroy said ahead of this week's Wells Fargo Championship: 'It just got pretty complicated and pretty messy.

Rory McIlroy's plan to rejoin the PGA Tour's influential policy board has been killed off

It is understood McIlroy and player direcctor Patrick Cantlay in particular do not see eye to eye

The Northern Irishman was due to replace Webb Simpson (pictured) on the policy board

'With the way it happened it opened up some wounds and scar tissue from things that have happened before. And I think there was a subset of people on the board who were uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason.'

McIlroy, who was due to replace Simpson on the board, added: 'I think the best course of action is if there are some people on there who aren't comfortable with coming back on, then I think Webb stays on and sees out his term. He's got to a place where he's comfortable with doing that. I just keep doing what I'm doing.

'I put my hand up to help. I wouldn't say it was rejected. I would just say it was a complicated process to put me back on there so that's all fine. No hard feelings and we'll all move on.'

When asked if he was hopeful that a merger can still be achieved, McIlroy said: 'I'm impatient because I think we've got this window of opportunity to get it done, because both sides from a business perspective I wouldn't say need to get it done, but it makes sense.

'I sort of liken it to when Northern Ireland went through the peace process in the '90s and the Good Friday Agreement, neither side was happy. Catholics weren't happy, Protestants weren't happy, but it brought peace and then you just sort of learn to live with whatever has been negotiated, right?

'It's probably not going to feel great for either side, but if it's a place where the game of golf starts to thrive again and we can all get back together, then I think that's ultimately a really good thing.'

Related articles