Rory McIlroy’s commitment to a stronger future for elite golf could be confirmed as early as this week with a dramatic return to board positions on the PGA Tour. Sources close to the situation have told the Guardian that McIlroy’s role as director on both the PGA Tour policy council and PGA Tour Enterprises will be voted on on Wednesday, after Webb Simpson tendered his resignation along with an explicit request that the Northern Irishman takes his place.
McIlroy’s return to the front line will be a major boost for the PGA Tour and its sponsors as the sport attempts to end the disruption caused by the arrival of the Saudi-backed LIV on the scene.
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McIlroy surprisingly resigned from the PGA Tour policy council last November. The assumption then was that the four-time major winner wanted to focus more on matters that lie within the ropes. Yet men’s professional golf continues to evolve, with traditional tours and LIV operating in different ways. McIlroy has always felt that the damage to golf’s reputation and notoriety as a result of the LIV schism is enormously damaging. “The game is much better with all of us together,” McIlroy said in recent days.
The 34-year-old now plans to take a step back from the scenario in an attempt to make progress. McIlroy announced last week that he wants to play the rest of his career on the PGA Tour after false rumors suggested he might receive an LIV offer. The fact that the world number 2 still wants to be at the forefront of the PGA Tour’s decision-making should resonate well with the grassroots membership.
Others likely to be impressed by McIlroy’s potential return include the DP World Tour, which would have a voice in the boardroom on the PGA Tour, and Fenway Sports Group (FSG). Earlier this year, FSG signed a commercial agreement with the PGA Tour as part of the Strategic Sports Group (SSG). Fenway and McIlroy have existing connections through TGL, a stadium golf league set to launch in 2025. McIlroy also has historically good relations with Yasir al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). The PIF is keen to work with the PGA Tour and SSG, but has been unable to make sufficient progress on that deal; there will be hope that McIlroy can move the process forward.
Fellow board members who will vote on McIlroy’s return include Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth. Cantlay’s thoughts on this issue may be particularly interesting. Spieth and McIlroy had words after the Texan suggested an alliance with the PIF was “not necessary.” al-Rumayyan then held a meeting with executives from the PGA Tour and SSG in the Bahamas. McIlroy is in the field this week for the Zurich Classic in New Orleans.