Shocking moment Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods completely ignore each other at PGA Championship – amid reports their friendship has ‘soured’
Reports of the deteriorating relationship between Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods came to life Thursday at the PGA Championship when a frosty exchange between the two was caught on camera.
When the two crossed paths in Valhalla, they did not greet each other – let alone look in each other’s direction – during the first day of the tournament.
At the time of writing, Woods is one over par through 10 holes, while McIlroy is one under through 11.
The interaction – or lack thereof – stems from reports of Golf overview that the relationship between Woods and McIlroy has “soured over the past six months” but “remains cordial.”
McIlroy resigned from his position on the PGA Tour board in November, although the Northern Irishman appeared ready to return to that role in recent weeks as the organization continues negotiations with LIV Golf.
Rory McIlroy (third right) and Tiger Woods didn’t even acknowledge each other on Thursday
The pair were known to be good friends, but their relationship has reportedly ‘soured’ recently
However, the board reportedly voted against McIlroy’s reinstatement The TelegraphWoods was among the player-directors who voted ‘no’ to McIlroy’s return.
The board also consists of Patrick Cantlay, Peter Malnati, Adam Scott and Jordan Spieth.
McIlroy acknowledged that “old wounds had been reopened” during his failed reintegration into administration.
“It got pretty complicated and pretty messy,” he said at the Wells Fargo Championship last week.
‘The way it happened left wounds and scar tissue from things that happened before. And I think there was a segment of people on the board who for some reason didn’t like me coming back.”
Woods and McIlroy were known to be close friends but differed on how the PGA should handle the Saudi-backed LIV tour.
McIlroy was initially a fiercely fierce critic of the league, but reversed course in April when he said the PGA needed to find a way to work with LIV, and that golf’s current situation was “not sustainable.”
Woods, meanwhile, has been less open to working with LIV following the PGA’s recent deal with Strategic Sports Group.
‘Financially we don’t do that [need that] right now,” he said.
The Northern Irishman and Erica Stoll married in 2017 (pictured at the 2023 Ryder Cup)
The amounts they came up with and what we initially agreed on in the framework agreement are all the same figures. Anything beyond that will obviously be above and beyond. We are in a great position right now.
McIlroy’s appearance at the PGA Championship comes amid his divorce from wife Erica Stoll, which was confirmed by his communications team earlier this week.
The couple was married for seven years and had one daughter, Poppy.
McIlroy’s communications team emphasized his “desire to ensure that this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible.”