Rory McIlroy has announced his resignation from the PGA Tour’s board, a move that comes after several years of being at the forefront of the Tour’s battle against LIV Golf and its Saudi Arabian supporters.
The announcement of his resignation was made on Tuesday, and was followed by a statement from Commissioner Jay Monahan and Edward D. Herlihy, the board’s chairman, who acknowledged McIlroy’s decision, saying, “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” (via The New York Times).
“[McIlroy was] instrumental in helping shape the success of the Tour, and his willingness to thoughtfully voice his opinions has been especially impactful.”
McIlroy cited “personal and professional commitments” as the reason for resigning from the board, expressing his feelings in Dubai recently, saying, “it was not what I signed [up] for when I went on the board,” and that it was taking much more time than he anticipated” (via PGA Tour).
McIlroy’s resignation follows a recent meeting at Tour headquarters in Florida, where negotiations with investors and LIV Golf for their partnership were discussed. This partnership has come under scrutiny and is currently under investigation by the United States Justice Department and the U.S. Congress.
As one of the most vocal opponents of LIV Golf, McIlroy has been vocal about the toll it has taken on him, expressing that he felt blindsided by the partnership announcement this summer and describing himself as a “sacrificial lamb” for the Tour.
Addressing the status of the deal, McIlroy commented, “I think if you were in the middle of it, you would see that there’s a path forward. It’s just that no one on the outside has any details, right? Loose lips sink ships, so we are trying to keep it tight and within walls. I’m sure when there’s news to tell, it will be told” (via NBC Sports).
Despite the challenges, McIlroy has enjoyed success on the Tour, with 24 victories to his name, including two wins last season. However, he has not won a major championship in a decade and is currently ranked No. 2 in the world. McIlroy has also launched a new indoor golf league with Tiger Woods scheduled for next year.
While McIlroy’s term on the board was supposed to continue until the end of 2024, his resignation means that another player will have to be elected to fill his position.
