McIlroy rules out immediate return to PGA Tour policy board amid LIV Golf tensions

Rory McIlroy has announced that he will not be returning to the PGA Tour policy board anytime soon following complex and messy discussions, after previously stating he would consider coming back if asked. The decision comes after talks regarding replacing Webb Simpson, who will remain on the board until the end of his term in 2025. McIlroy revealed that during the conversations, a subgroup of board members expressed discomfort with him rejoining. He suggested that the best course of action would be for Simpson to complete his term. McIlroy clarified that the decision was not a rejection, but a complicated process. This follows ongoing disputes between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, which has led to delays in reconciliation talks beyond the initial December 31 deadline. McIlroy acknowledged that both parties would need to compromise to resolve the ongoing issue. In relation to the participation of LIV Golf players in major tournaments, McIlroy suggested drawing inspiration from Northern Ireland’s Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of sectarian conflict. McIlroy is currently pursuing his fourth victory at the Quail Hollow Club, where he won three times as an amateur. The Northern Irishman has struggled to make an impact in the US this year, but found success partnering with Shane Lowry to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last month.