Tiger Woods-Rory McIlroy drama paints murky future for PGA

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy attended a TGL groundbreaking ceremony at Palm Beach State College in February 2023. Thomas Cordy / USA TODAY NETWORK

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy's 'soured' relationship paints murky future for PGA Tour

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated 5/10/24

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have been good friends on and off the golf course for years, but the golf superstars aren't in a good place right now. According to Golf Digest, the Woods-McIlroy relationship has "soured" over the past six months due to disagreements regarding the future of professional golf.

That explains why McIlroy won't be re-joining the PGA Tour policy board despite the Northern Irishman expressing interest in returning just a few weeks ago. The World No. 2 was poised to return to the policy board soon, but Golf Digest reports board members Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, and — that's right — Tiger Woods weren't eager to welcome him back.

Here's Rory McIlroy talking about the PGA Tour policy board and the "subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason." pic.twitter.com/0skNOwtWxz
— Patrick McDonald (@pmcdonaldCBS) May 8, 2024

"There’s been a lot of conversations," McIlroy told reporters this week ahead of the Wells Fargo Championship, per CNN. "It got pretty complicated and pretty messy, and I think with the way it happened, it opened up some old wounds and scar tissue from things that have happened before."

The deterioration of the Woods-McIlroy relationship is likely due to their differing opinions on LIV Golf and PIF. McIlroy, who was once the strongest voice opposing LIV, has softened his stance in recent months.

The four-time major champion vocally supports a PGA Tour-PIF merger to unite both tours. Woods may not be a fan of McIlroy's flip-flopping on the matter.

With McIlroy now out of the picture, Woods will be the only player on the policy board involved in negotiations between the PGA Tour and PIF.

We can't predict what that means for the future of professional golf right now. If McIlroy was involved in the process, though, we know he would push to get a deal done as soon as possible. Woods will be much more patient, considering he isn't a full-time member of the PGA Tour.

Who knew pro golf could produce this much drama?

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