Rory McIlroy's planned return to the PGA Tour Players Board has been thwarted after some members expressed discomfort with his presence.
Rory McIlroy's anticipated return to the PGA Tour Players Board has hit a roadblock after the Northern Irish golfer revealed that certain members felt "uncomfortable" with his presence.
Last month, reports surfaced that McIlroy would reassume his role as a player director, months after his abrupt resignation citing personal and professional obligations. The move was intended to fill the vacancy left by seven-time PGA Tour winner Webb Simpson, who reportedly tendered his resignation with the condition that McIlroy replace him.
However, McIlroy has confirmed that his return to the board is no longer in the cards. "I think with the way it happened, I think it opened up some old wounds and scar tissue from things that have happened before," he explained ahead of the Wells Fargo Championship, as reported by ESPN.
"I think there was a subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason," McIlroy added.
The board's reluctance stems from McIlroy's outspoken criticism of the PGA Tour's handling of the LIV Golf breakaway movement. McIlroy has been a vocal proponent of the PGA Tour, condemning LIV Golf's financial backing by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
His return to the board was seen as an opportunity to facilitate negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. In June 2023, the PGA Tour announced plans to forge a strategic partnership with the DP World Tour and PIF. However, the deadline for finalizing the deal has been extended as the parties continue discussions.
Despite the stalled partnership with PIF, the PGA Tour has embarked on a separate deal with Strategic Sports Group as a minority investor, a move that could potentially be worth $3 billion.
McIlroy expressed his disappointment with the board's decision, stating, "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. So that’s all fine, no hard feelings, and we’ll all move on."
The PGA Tour's ongoing negotiations with LIV Golf have been a contentious topic. The breakaway league has lured several top players with lucrative contracts, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Bryson DeChambeau.
The potential partnership with PIF has raised concerns about the influence of Saudi Arabia's human rights record on the sport of golf. Critics have argued that aligning with the Saudi regime legitimizes its questionable actions.
The PGA Tour has maintained that its partnership discussions are focused solely on financial considerations and have no bearing on political or human rights issues. However, the ongoing negotiations continue to cast a shadow over the future of the sport.
