Rory McIlroy breaks silence on sensational PGA Tour U-turn after farcical LIV Golf claims
Rory McIlroy has discussed the reasoning behind why he opted to rejoin the PGA Tour’s policy board and LIV Golf negotiations after stepping down from his role last November
Rory McIlroy has shared his reasoning behind rejoining the PGA Tour’s policy board this week, having reversed his decision to walk away from the boardroom in order to focus on his game.
Discussing his decision to reclaim a director role on the board, McIlroy bluntly told Sky Sports: “I’d rather the men’s golf professional landscape survived this, so I’m happy to do my bit.”
Talks between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – the backers of LIV Golf – have reportedly reached a standstill since the shock “framework agreement” between the two sides was announced last June. MCIlroy was previously at the forefront of negotiations, and additionally is on good terms with PIF chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
After serving on the board from 2021 to November 2023, McIlroy stepped down from his role last year, telling reporters that he was struggling to keep up with the position’s demanding responsibilities.
“I just think I’ve got a lot going on in my life between my golf game, my family and my growing investment portfolio, my involvement in TGL, and I just felt like something had to give,” he said at the DP World Tour Championship.
“I don’t mind being busy, but I just like being busy doing my own stuff,” he added. “Something had to give and there’s guys that are on that board that are spending a lot more time and a lot more energy on it than I am. It’s in good hands and I felt like it was the right time to step off.”
It appears as though McIlroy has had a change of heart, however, with The Guardian reporting that he is set to replace Webb Simpson, who resigned from the policy board of six player directors and requested that the 34-year-old take his seat. Upon being officially voted in on Wednesday, McIlroy would join Tiger Woods , Patrick Cantlay , Peter Malnati, Adam Scott and Jordan Spieth .
Despite initially clapping back at those who defected to LIV Golf, McIlroy has since loosened his stance on the Saudi-backed league, conceding he was “too judgemental.” Due to the Northern Irishman’s shift in opinion, some speculated he could soon make a move to LIV – even citing a possible £672 million ($850m) deal on the table.
McIlroy quickly dispelled the rumours at the RBC Heritage, insisting he’d stay on the PGA Tour for the remainder of his career. “I honestly don’t know how these things get started,” he told Golf Channel. “I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me. It doesn’t mean that I judge people that went and played over there.
“I think one of the things that I’ve realised over the past two years is people can make their own decisions for whatever they think is best for themselves and who are we to judge them for that? But personally for me, my future is here on the PGA Tour and it’s never been any different.”
