Rory McIlroy has stated that his friendship with Tiger Woods remains intact despite their disagreements regarding the future of golf.
Two of golf’s brightest stars have a long history of friendship, but they have recently found themselves on opposing sides of the sport.
Following a tumultuous period, negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s Saudi Arabian financiers are still ongoing. McIlroy was formerly anti-LIV Golf, but he has changed his stance and is now a prominent player attempting to unite the two sides. He has joined the transaction subcommittee in an attempt to make a deal, after being refused when he applied to rejoin the PGA Tour’s policy board.
It has also brought him into dispute with Woods, who reportedly voted against McIlroy’s re-appointment to the board. According to reports, their romance had’soured’ owing to politics.
The Northern Irishman said that things “got pretty complicated and pretty messy” but denied that he and Woods had a falling out.
The crucial LIV Golf policy has left Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy with different agendas. Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods put their ‘fallout’ behind them to reconvene for LIV Golf discussions.
“I would say, I mean, I think friends can have disagreements or not see things – I guess not – not see eye to eye on things but have disagreements on things,” McIlroy stated. “I think that is fine. But, no, I wouldn’t say that; we had a great 45-minute conversation last Friday discussing a variety of topics. “No, there is no strain there.
I believe we may have differing perspectives on the future of golf, but it should not strain a relationship or friendship.” McIlroy resigned from the PGA Tour policy board in November, citing dissatisfaction with the tour’s direction and the impact his involvement was having on his playing and personal life.
Last month, he accepted a plea from Webb Simpson, who offered to quit if McIlroy replaced him. However, that concept was dashed by the other members, who opposed the world No.2’s comeback. Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods’ TGL roster is expanding with three additional players. Rory McIlroy insists he has not fallen out with Tiger Woods.
Speaking at the Wells Fargo Championship on Thursday, McIlroy stated, “I’m not on the board, but I’m part in that transaction committee. I don’t have a vote, so I don’t have a real say in what occurs in the future, but I believe I can be useful on that committee.
And that was sort of a compromise for maybe not obtaining a board seat.” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan stated that, despite being denied, McIlroy will continue to have a say in the sport’s future.
“Today’s news is in no way a commentary on Rory’s important influence,” Monahan stated. “It’s simply a matter of adherence to our governance process by which a tour player becomes a board member.” He continued:
“We are making progress in our negotiations with the PIF and are working as a collective – the player directors, our boards and tour management – to remain open-minded to all avenues that advance the tour in the best interest of our players, our partners and, most importantly, our fans.”
