Woods-McIlroy relationship sours due to 'messy' PGA Tour drama?
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Golf’s two biggest stars are seemingly not in alignment.
Tension appears to be growing between Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy as the PGA Tour tries to keep money flowing among its members.
McIllroy’s attempt to return to the tour’s player advisory board was met with resistance from Woods as well as Jordan Spieth and Patrick Cantlay, Gold Digest reported.
McIlroy confirmed on Wednesday before the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club that he would not rejoin the board after giving up his seat in November 2023.
While still cordial, Woods and McIlroy’s relationship has “soured over the past six months,” Golf Digest reports, and the pair have had a “falling out” over different views about the best path forward for the sport.
“I think it just … it got pretty complicated and pretty messy and I think with the way it happened, I think it opened up some old wounds and scar tissue from things that have happened before,” McIlroy said Wednesday.
“I think there was a subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason … I think Webb (Simpson) just stays on and sees out his term, and 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. So yeah, 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.”
Meanwhile, The Associated Press reported that Woods would be the lone player negotiating with PIF, the financial arm of the Saudi Arabian government, as part of a transaction subcommittee that also includes PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, board chairman Joe Gorder, John W. Henry, of Fenway Sports Group, and Joe Ogilvie, a former tour player appointed as a director liaison in March.
The issues started nearly two years ago when players began defecting for the rebel LIV Golf, funded by PIF.
The PGA and PIF shockingly agreed to a framework deal in June 2023 that would ostensibly merge the PGA and LIV.
Details remain vague 11 months later on any progress that has been accomplished.
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Meanwhile, players continue to bolt for LIV, led by Jon Rahm switching tours in December 2023 for a reported $450 million.
In January, Spieth — who took McIlroy’s spot on the board — questioned whether the PGA even needs PIF.
A $1.5 billion cash infusion for PGA Tour Enterprises arrived via a group of high-profile investors led by Fenway Sports and including Mets owner Steve Cohen.
That led to McIlroy leaving a group text with Spieth and other players.
That $1.5 billion, in part, was paid to PGA players as a loyalty reward.
Woods cashed in on $100 million, McIlroy $50 million and Spieth $30 million, according to The Telegraph.
As the players continue to fight over the money, the game remains divided with some of the sport’s best playing for LIV, which has garnered minuscule interest from viewers.
Meanwhile, PGA Tour ratings have sagged.
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