PGA Tour told what they are missing after Rory McIlroy snubbed by Tiger Woods and co

Rory McIlroy's hopes of returning to the PGA Tour policy board vanished this week, after a number of his fellow players - including Tiger Woods - opposed his comeback

By: irishmirror.ie

May 10 2024
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PGA Tour told what they are mi

Eddie Pepperell believes it is a 'shame' that Rory McIlroy is not returning to the PGA Tour's policy board, after a group of players including Tiger Woods pushed back the Northern Irishman making a comeback.

McIlroy has found himself at the centre of the saga between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, but opted to walk away from the off-course politics after resigning from the policy board last November. In recent weeks however it emerged that the four-time major champion was keen on making a comeback as a player director.

These hopes were dashed earlier this week though, after it was reported by Golf Digest that current members Woods, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Cantlay had opposed to McIlroy returning to his director post.

DP World Tour star Pepperell however believes this could have been a mistake. "I think it’s a shame for somebody like Rory not to be involved, particularly on the PGA Tour’s board because invariably, it’s made of Americans,” he told National Club Golfer. “I think any good board, what is in golf or any business, benefits from having people with a wider, more generalist perspective and I think Rory brings that.

That’s just one thing he brings, not to mention everything else he brings, so I think it’s a shame for them that Rory isn’t going to be a voice within that room... I think you’d rather have someone like Rory in that room. I suspect he regrets, to a small degree, resigning in the first place, but I also think that’s a reflection of Rory’s character and his nature and I think that’s what we like about Rory.

“He is sometimes impulsive but not in a way that degrades or erodes his intelligence or his successes, but it’s just a human element in him and I think that’s something that I and I think we all like about Rory.” On the back of McIlroy's snub, it was reported that the Northern Irishman's relationship with good pal and business partner Woods had 'soured' in recent months amid their disagreements over what the future holds for the Tour and LIV Golf.

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Rory McIlroy discussed his relationship with Tiger Woods (Image: Getty Images)

The four-time major champion has softened his stance the LIV setup in recent months, admitting earlier this year that he believes players wanting to from the breakaway league wanting to return to the PGA Tour should be able to do so freely without the fear of punishment.

It was suggested that a number of players disagreed with McIlroy, including Woods. Despite this week's speculation, the European star has played down any sort of fallout with his TGL partner. “I would say, I mean, I think friends can have disagreements or not see things," he said on Thursday. "I guess not – not see eye to eye on things but have disagreements on things. I think that's fine.

"But no, I wouldn't say – we had a really good talk last Friday for 45 minutes, just about a lot of different things. No, there's no strain there. I think we might see the future of golf a little bit differently, but I don't think that should place any strain on a relationship or on a friendship.” McIlroy also revealed he will still play apart in discussions with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, alongside Woods and Adam Scott.