Rory McIlroy not returning to PGA Tour board after ‘old wounds’ reopened

Rory McIlroy will not rejoin the PGA Tour policy board. Photograph: Stephen Lew/USA Today Sports

The internal politics of the PGA Tour have been placed into sharp focus after Rory McIlroy was astonishingly prevented from returning to a position of power within the organisation. The inability of McIlroy to take places on the PGA Tour policy board and as a director of PGA Tour Enterprises is certain to cause consternation among sponsors and partners, including the European Tour Group.

Webb Simpson planned to resign from both boards, with the former US Open champion offering specific instruction that he wanted McIlroy to take on the positions. The 35-year-old, who has been frustrated at the time being taken to unify golf, was happy to step forward.

This, however, triggered ructions on the all-powerful PGA Tour policy board. Members include Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth and there is no European representation. McIlroy has clashed previously with Cantlay and Spieth over golf’s future. After delay upon delay at holding a vote over McIlroy’s return – he resigned from the policy board last November, citing time constraints – Simpson will remain in place.

“It got pretty complicated and pretty messy,” said McIlroy. “I think it opened up some old wounds and scar tissue from things that have happened before. There was a subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason. I think the best course of action is, if there’s some people on there that aren’t comfortable with me coming back on, then I think Webb just stays on and sees out his term. I think he’s gotten to a place where he’s comfortable with doing that and I just sort of keep doing what I’m doing.

“I put my hand up to help and it was … I wouldn’t say it was rejected, 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.

“My fear was if Webb stepped off and it wasn’t me that was going in his place, what could potentially happen. I’m really happy that Webb has made that decision to stay on and serve out the rest of his term.”

Those familiar with the situation have told the Guardian that lesser and alternative posts were floated for McIlroy, which he was unwilling to accept. When speaking in public, it is likely policy board members will cite governance concerns relating to Simpson effectively giving his directorships to McIlroy. However, such a point would be undermined by the processes during which Woods and Spieth were placed on the board.

McIlroy has been adamant golf requires a global schedule, as a means for traditional tours to work in tandem with the Saudi Arabian-funded LIV circuit. “I’m impatient because I think we’ve got this window of opportunity to get it done,” added the world No 2. “I sort of liken it to like when Northern Ireland went through the peace process in the ’90s and the Good Friday agreement. Neither side was happy. Catholics weren’t happy, Protestants weren’t happy, but it brought peace and then you just sort of learn to live with whatever has been negotiated, right? That was in 1998 and 25 years ahead, my generation doesn’t know any different.”