Rory McIlroy explained on Thursday how he did not want to compromise his latest tilt at the Masters next April by remaining part of the PGA Tour’s policy board.
In a shock announcement on Tuesday it was revealed McIlroy had resigned from the board as he seeks to spend less time embroiled in the politics of golf. By McIlroy’s own assertion, “something had to give”.
The sport remains in a state of flux, with the PGA and DP World Tours trying to formalise a framework deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. McIlroy, a staunch supporter of golf’s traditional tours, admitted he had less of a voice after the agreement was made in June. McIlroy requires only the Masters to complete a grand slam of major championships.
Speaking after his first round of 71 at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, McIlroy said: “I like being busy but I like being busy doing my own thing. It just got to the point where I couldn’t fit it all in. I’m thinking as we go into the next year, as I try to get ramped up for Augusta and all those tournaments, I just can’t see me putting the time and the energy into it. If I feel like I’m not prepared going into those meetings then it is better off if someone else takes my place, who is able to put the time and the energy into it.
“There’s only so many hours in the day and so many days in the week and I’ve got a lot going on in my life right now. Between trying to be a world-class golfer and trying to be a good husband and a good father, I’ve got a growing investment portfolio that’s taking up more of my time.”
McIlroy has always been a vehement critic of the Saudi-backed LIV tour. On issues caused by the framework agreement, he added: “I stepped up and spoke out about something I believed in. Obviously, the landscape changed on 6 June with that announcement and I felt like from then on I was playing a lesser part because of the decisions that were made.”
McIlroy refused to criticise the approach of those, including Tiger Woods, who remain part of the PGA Tour’s inner sanctum. He did, though, concede arguments can be contrasting. “I think when you get into a room people have got different views and different opinions on what should happen,” said the 34-year-old. “Certainly, I had my views and my opinions, some people agreed and some people didn’t. But that’s the nature of where we are at and that’s the nature of sitting on a board. Not everyone is going to agree on everything. You have to try to compromise and try to come up with the best solution.
“I’m pretty happy with the direction of travel. It’s just a matter of trying to get the thing done as fast as possible.”
