Rory McIlroy resigns from PGA Tour role after meeting involving Tiger Woods

15 November 2023 , 05:07

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Rory McIlroy has resigned from his role on the PGA Tour policy board after more details of golf’s potential future came to light.

McIlroy was the most staunch defender of the PGA Tour after the launch of the LIV Golf breakaway league, funded by the Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). However, the two organisations announced a shock merger five months ago, with work still ongoing for a framework agreement.

New details emerged this week a fter a meeting, which included golf legend and McIlroy’s close ally Tiger Woods among player representatives. It’s been claimed that PGA Tour stars will be offered a part-ownership of the proposed new for-profit golf project stemming from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger.

A December 31 deadline has also been set for an agreement, although that could be pushed back. However, it’s now been revealed McIlroy has resigned from his role on the PGA Tour policy board.

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"I wanted to inform you that Rory McIlroy has resigned from the PGA Tour Policy Board," PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan wrote in a memo to membership. "Rory's resignation letter, which he sent to the full Board late this afternoon, clearly stated that the difficult decision was made due to professional and personal commitments.”

McIlroy, who first joined the Plater Advisory Council in 2019, hinted he was considering his position earlier this week. He spoke candidly about the situation facing the game on Tuesday at the DP World Tour Championship.

"[It is] not what I signed for whenever I went on the board," McIlroy said. ”But yeah, the game of professional golf has been in flux for the last two years. Again, the overall game I think is in really good shape.

“But everyone focuses on this top level because it is what it is, and it's an entertainment product and it's a show, but the faster that it gets rectified, I think the better for everyone.”

Rory McIlroy has resigned from his role on the PGA Tour policy board (Getty Images)

Discussing whether there is a solution on the horizon, he added: "I think if you were in the middle of it, you would see that there's a path forward.

"It's just that no one on the outside has any details. Loose lips sink ships, so we are trying to keep it tight and within walls. I'm sure when there's news to tell, it will be told.

"I think getting something done sooner rather than later is a good thing," McIlroy said. "Because you know, even if we get a deal done, it doesn't mean that it's actually going to happen.

"That's up to the United States government at that point, and whether the Department of Justice think that it's the right thing to do or whether anti-competitive or whatever.

"Even if a deal does get done, it's not a sure thing. So yeah, we are just going to have to wait and see. But in my opinion, the faster something gets done, the better.”

Those talks now appear set to conclude without McIlroy after his resignation from his position after a tumultuous and drawn out political battle among golf’s power brokers in recent years.