In a statement released late Tuesday, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and board chairman Edward Herlihy announced the resignation of Rory McIlroy from the PGA Tour’s board. The four-time major champion expressed his decision to focus on his golf career and spend more time with his family, marking another manifestation of the upheaval in golf amid the acrimonious battle with Saudi-backed LIV Golf.
Acknowledging McIlroy’s significant contributions during a transformative period for the PGA Tour, Monahan and Herlihy noted, “Given the extraordinary time and effort that Rory – and all of his fellow player directors – have invested in the tour during this unprecedented, transformational period in our history, we certainly understand and respect his decision to step down in order to focus on his game and his family.”
McIlroy, previously a staunch ally of the PGA Tour during the bitter conflict with LIV, reportedly declined a substantial offer to join the Saudi-backed series. The golfer was taken aback when the PGA Tour announced a joint venture with LIV’s Saudi financiers in June, effectively concluding the dispute. McIlroy, who had vigorously supported the PGA Tour during the LIV saga, expressed disappointment over the deal being sealed without his knowledge.
At the Canadian Open in June, McIlroy voiced his frustration, saying, “It’s hard for me to not sit up here and feel somewhat like a sacrificial lamb and feeling like I’ve put myself out there and this is what happens.” Despite his initial resistance, McIlroy eventually acknowledged the futility of competing with the significant financial resources Saudi Arabia was willing to invest in golf.
Speaking in Dubai before the public announcement of his resignation from the PGA Tour board, McIlroy revealed his waning enthusiasm for the role. When asked about shaping negotiations for the PGA Tour-Saudi joint venture, he replied, “Not particularly, no. Not what I signed up for whenever I went on the board. But yeah, the game of golf has been in flux for the last two years,” emphasizing his disinterest in continuing his board responsibilities.
