Rory McIlroy won’t be rejoining the PGA Tour Players Board, despite initial reports suggesting he might return. McIlroy had stepped down from the board earlier due to “personal and professional commitments,” and his unexpected resignation took many by surprise. This week, he confirmed that his return to the board is not happening, hinting that some board members felt “uncomfortable” about his possible reinstatement.
The golfer explained that his return to the board might have reopened old wounds and rekindled past tensions. “There was a subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason,” McIlroy said ahead of the Wells Fargo Championship, as reported by ESPN.
McIlroy’s return to the board was seen as a potential boost for the PGA Tour’s stalled negotiations with LIV Golf’s Saudi backers. In June, the PGA Tour announced a new partnership with the DP World Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the financial force behind LIV Golf. However, the final agreement has been delayed, with the original deadline of December 31, 2023, being extended as discussions continue.
The PGA Tour instead took on Strategic Sports Group as a minority investor in a deal that could be worth up to $3 billion, diverting from its previous plans with PIF. McIlroy said he offered to help, but the response was complicated, leading to his decision not to pursue a board position. “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,” he explained. “So that’s all fine, no hard feelings, and we’ll all move on.”
Despite the setback, McIlroy seemed at peace with the outcome. He clarified that there were no hard feelings, and he’s ready to move forward, leaving the board matters behind him.
