Rory McIlroy calls sudden PGA Tour governance change concerning… see more in comment
Rory McIlroy calls for sudden changes in PGA Tour governance… Read more in commentary
Rory McIlroy spoke to the media Wednesday at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky.
Professional golf faces uncertain times as the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund remain at an impasse in determining the sport’s future. In anticipation of the merger, almost a year ago, the completion of the transaction was completed in December, and it was announced that additional negotiations were still a small progress.
Another potential obstacle occurred when a major transaction, a businessman of the framework contract in June, suddenly resigned from a PGA tour policy. Dunn cited the lack of progress on the board, which now has more players than independent directors, and called his voice and role “completely unnecessary.”
Dunn’s resignation and the status of the merger were a big topic at the conference earlier this week.
“Frankly, I think it’s a huge loss for the PGA Tour if they try to make a deal with the PIF and unify the game,” Rory McIlroy said while speaking to the media Wednesday at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. “Jimmy was basically the liaison, sort of a liaison between the PGA Tour and the PIF. It’s a shame he hasn’t been part of the project in recent months, and I think that’s part of the reason why things have stalled. So it’s very, very disappointing and I think the Tour is in an even worse position because of that.”
McIlroy himself was not immune to the drama. He resigned from the Policy Board himself, in November — citing personal and professional commitments — but recently tried rejoining, to fill a spot held by Webb Simpson, who wanted McIlroy to take his spot. But that move and Simpson stayed in place. “There may have been some people on the board who weren’t comfortable with me coming back for whatever reason,” McIlroy said at last week’s Wells Fargo Championship. “I think the best solution is, if there were some people who weren’t comfortable with me coming back, then Webb would stay and serve out his term, and I think he’s gotten to a place where he’s comfortable doing that and I’m just like, ‘Keep doing what I’m doing.’ So, yes I asked for help and I won’t say I was refused, it was a difficult process to get me back there. ”
However, McIlroy is part of PGA Tour Enterprise’s New Contracts Subcommittee, which negotiates directly with PIF. The subcommittee, which also includes Tiger Woods, was made public last week. However, the future of professional golf remains uncertain. “Things are actually going much better than people think,” Jordan Spieth, who replaced McIlroy on the board in Novembe
- r, told the PGA.