Tiger Woods among those opposing Rory McIlroy’s return to policy board – Report

The world of men’s professional golf has been rocked by recent developments involving Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy and the PGA Tour policy board. McIlroy, a prominent figure in the sport, has found himself at the center of a controversy following the reported possibility of him rejoining the PGA Tour’s Board. This has sparked a flurry of reactions from various quarters, with some supporting his return while others vehemently opposing it.

Adding fuel to the fire, an anonymous source revealed to Golf Digest that Tiger Woods, a long-time ally of Rory McIlroy, was not in favor of welcoming him back to the board. This revelation has sent shockwaves through the golfing community, given the close relationship between the two players who live nearby in Jupiter, South Florida, and often play golf socially.

Rory McIlroy’s attempt to rejoin the board, following Webb Simpson’s offer to step down in his favor, was met with complications and pushback from a faction of board members. In a statement addressing the situation, McIlroy expressed his disappointment at the roadblock he encountered, hinting at underlying issues that resurfaced during the discussions. 

In an interview at the Wells Fargo Championship, McIlroy explained that the conversations surrounding his potential return became “pretty complicated and messy,” which reminded him of why he left the board in the first place.

“I think with the way it happened it opened up some old wounds and scar tissue from things that have happened before,” McIlroy said. “I think there was a subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason.”

The internal politics of the PGA Tour have taken center stage following Rory McIlroy’s decision, with some players-directors, including Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Cantlay, actively opposing his reincorporation, according to reports. Woods, who has long been a close ally of McIlroy, voted against his return to the board, citing concerns about the Saudi investment in the PGA Tour. 

Another anonymous source, identified as a tournament director, gave to Golfweek insights on the state of the PGA Tour policy board and negotiations with the PIF:

“We need Rory back on the board. Had he stayed on he could’ve neutered Cantlay. He’s the only one with the power to neuter Cantlay. We need Rory to try to keep Cantlay from ruining the Tour…”

Rory McIlroy has been vocal about the need for a global golf schedule, which would allow traditional tours to coexist with the LIV circuit. He has also compared the situation to the Northern Ireland peace process, where both sides came together to find a compromise. However, it seems that not all players-directors share his vision, and the divide on the subject is evident.

“I put my hand up to help and it was, I wouldn’t say it was rejected, (but) it was a complicated process to get through to put me back on there,” McIlroy added. “So that’s all fine, no hard feelings and we’ll all move on.”

Other opinions about Rory McIlroy’s case

Two-time PGA Tour winner and current 409th ranked golfer in the world James Hahn questioned how Webb Simpson could handpick his successor should he have left the board:

“That’s just not how democracy works. It goes against all the principles of what makes a Tour-run organization. Imagine if instead of Rory, Webb said he wanted Nate Lashley, who has been vocal against some of the Tour policy decisions, or named me to replace him. There would be an absolute uproar. People would be saying, ‘You can’t do that.’”

Webb Simpson offered to step down as player director, but only if Rory McIlroy is named as his replacement. For now, Simpson will continue to serve on the board and expressed his appreciation for McIlroy’s willingness to help and his understanding of the complexities involved in the process:

“Rory always had great ideas of how do we move forward, how do we get the love and attention from fans back from where we had it maybe two years ago, how do we grow our business, all things related to the PGA Tour.”

Rory McIlroy’s journey to rejoin the PGA Tour policy board may have hit a roadblock, but his commitment to the game and his vision for its future remain unwavering. As the golf world navigates through these turbulent times, the decisions made by players-directors and the outcomes of these negotiations will undoubtedly shape the landscape of professional golf for years to come.