Rory McIlroy shockingly resigns from PGA Tour, explains why
Rory McIlroy submitted his resignation to PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and the board of directors on Tuesday night.
Jack Mirko Jack Mirko has been playing golf since he was five years old. He has yet to record a hole-in-one, but he did secure an M.A. in Sports Journalism from St. Bonaventure University.
Rory McIlroy resigned from the PGA Tour Policy Board late Tuesday, one day after tour leadership held a meeting in Ponta Vedra Beach, Florida. The news came as a shock since McIlroy has been the face of the PGA Tour for several years. “[McIlroy’s] resignation letter, which he sent to the entire board late last night, made clear that the difficult decision was made due to professional and personal commitments,” said the PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan in an email to tour members. MondayQ (( @acaseofthegolf1 on X). “Given the incredible time and effort that Rory and all of his fellow game directors have put into the Tour during a time of unprecedented change in our history, we certainly understand and respect his decision to step down to focus on the game and his family.”
Monday’s meeting at PGA Tour headquarters covered a range of topics, including ongoing negotiations with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is the beneficiary of LIV Golf.
The board also discussed the possibility of alternative investors, such as Fenway Sports Group, and the idea of players acquiring shares in a new for-profit entity that would manage professional golf. But it seemed McIlroy either didn’t like what he was hearing or was simply tired. In recent years, the Northern Irishman has led a campaign for the PGA Tour to champion its own causes while also criticizing the Saudi-backed LIV golf channel. However, the day after Monahan’s publication, the day after the framework agreement with PIF, Makiroy acknowledged that he was a “sacrifice lamb” and felt that the tour leadership was suppressed following the great division of golf. Nevertheless, McIlroy now seems adamant about continuing to receive investment from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.
“It feels like the competitive environment is broken right now. I would prefer if everyone sort of got back into the same boat,” McIlroy noted, per Kyle Porter of CBS Sports.
“I think that’s the best thing for golf… I would hope when we go through this process, the PIF is the one involved with the framework agreement. Apparently other candidates were involved, offering services and support. But I really hope that the PIF will be involved to help us unite golf again when this is all over.
Reports say that talks between the PGA Tour and the PIF are likely to extend beyond December into 2024. 31, 2023, deadline outlined within the framework agreement.
As for McIlroy, his resignation leaves a vacant position on the PGA Tour Policy Board. That leaves just Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Peter Malnati, Webb Simpson and Charlie Hoffman.
Monahan added in an email that “per PGA TOUR tournament rules, whenever a Player of Player position becomes vacant due to a resignation, the remaining Player of Players will select a successor to serve the remainder of the term.” “[McIlroy’s] term ends at the end of 2024.”
It remains to be seen who McIlroy’s replacement will be, but whoever he is will have a key role in writing the future of professional golf.
McIlroy, meanwhile, will take a step back to focus on his game and his family.