WASHINGTON: Rory McIlroy will not return to the PGA Tour policy board, the four-time major champion said Wednesday that Webb Simpson will remain on the decision-making panel.
Speaking ahead of the PGA Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina, McIlroy said he was concerned that some board members would return after withdrawing last year.
“I think it’s the best move … Webb just watches and sees the time, and I think he’s in a place where he’s comfortable doing this, and I’m just going to do what I do.”
The board includes Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay and Peter Malnati. Cantlay and Spieth have long argued with McIlroy over the future of golf.
McIlroy is expected to return after US Open champion Simpson said he was retiring to spend time with his family.
Instead, according to McIlroy, Simpson will serve his tenure in 2025.
“I put my hand up for help, but I wouldn’t say it was denied,” McIlroy said. It was a very complicated transition to get me back there. So everything is good, there are no hard feelings and we will all move on.”
The board continues to negotiate a merger agreement between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) – backer of rival Golf League LIV – from the framework agreement announced last June.
“I’m still optimistic,” McIlroy said. He had a really balanced voice in all of this and I think he sees the big picture. It’s scary. If Webb quits, not me. What could have happened is that he’s going.”
Negotiations with the original December deadline dragged on for months, and slow progress was not a factor in McIlroy’s exit.
McIlroy compared the situation with the Good Friday Agreement, which ended the unrest in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
“This is a small way to try to think through it and try to see if the two sides can come to an agreement here. Yeah, it doesn’t feel good for both sides, but if that’s where the golf game starts; we can develop. again and we can all get together, then that’s a good thing.” I think so.”
