Following his peers’ rejection of Rory McIlroy’s request to rejoin the policy board and lead LIV Golf negotiations, PGA Tour CEO Jay Monahan has spoken out.
The policy board’s decision to prevent Rory McIlroy from making a comeback, according to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, was not influenced by the Northern Irishman’s “significant influence.”
McIlroy, who left the policy board in November, was about to rejoin it. One of the six player directors for the PGA Tour, Webb Simpson, declared last month that he intended to step down from his position, provided that McIlroy was chosen to take his place.
The four-time major champion McIlroy left the policy board to concentrate on his game and personal life, feeling that being the tour’s de facto spokesperson in its rivalry with LIV Golf took a toll. If merger talks with LIV’s supporter, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), continued without a resolution, he was willing to return to the policy board.
The 35-year-old, though, encountered opposition from his peers. According to McIlroy, a “subset” of the player directors opposed his return at this time in the absence of the traditional election procedure. Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, and Patrick Cantlay were reportedly not thrilled about McIlroy rejoining the policy board, according to Golf Digest.
Monahan provided an update on the matter following McIlroy’s remarks during Wednesday’s Wells Fargo Championship press conference.
“The news of today is not a critique of Rory’s significant impact,” stated Monahan. “Being a board member is just a matter of a Tour player following our governance process.
“Webb’s tenure as a member of the PGA Tour Enterprises board and the policy board through the end of his term provides the continuity required at this critical juncture.
“Our boards, player directors, and tour management are working together to stay open-minded to any opportunities that advance the tour in the best interest of our players, our partners, and most importantly, our fans. We are making progress in our negotiations with the PIF.”
When McIlroy tried to rejoin the policy board, he claimed that things became “complicated and messy.” “The way it happened opened up some wounds and scar tissue from things that have happened before,” the speaker said. Additionally, I believe that for some reason, a portion of the board felt uneasy about me returning.
In addition to Woods, Spieth, Cantlay, and Simpson, the other player directors on the policy board are Adam Scott and Peter Malnati. Due to Jordan Spieth’s upcoming term ending at the end of this year, who took McIlroy’s place on the board following his resignation, McIlroy will have to wait until the next open position to run for office.
In the negotiations with PIF, the six players and the executives and directors of the tour who are members of the policy board are leading the charge. Eleven months ago, a framework agreement was reached for the merger of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and PIF; however, the last details are still pending.
Meanwhile, the PGA Tour and Strategic Sports Group have reached an investment agreement worth £2.4 billion, of which players have already received half through an equity award program.
