Rory McIlroy denies Tiger Woods rift despite differing views on golf’s direction

Fri, 10 May, 2024 - 13:35

By PA Sport Staff

Rory McIlroy admitted he and Tiger Woods have differing views on the direction of men’s golf but denied suggestions of a rift with the 15-time major champion.

The pair, plus 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott, are part of a newly-formed seven-person “transaction subcommittee” by the PGA Tour to hold negotiations with the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf.

It comes after McIlroy, who has previously been one of the arch critics of the breakaway tour, revealed he would not replace Webb Simpson on the PGA Tour policy board after the prospect of his return reopened “old wounds” among other players.

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Several outlets have reported that Woods, Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth vetoed the possibility of McIlroy rejoining the board, but the Northern Irishman bears no grudges towards the 48-year-old.

He told reporters: “I think friends can have disagreements or not see eye to eye on things.

“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 insisted in July last year that he would rather retire than play on the LIV Tour but his stance appears to be softening as he and the subcommittee tries to do a deal with Public Investment Fund (PIF), which bankrolls LIV Golf.

Rory McIlroy, second left, and Tiger Woods, third left, are part of a seven-member transaction subcommittee created by the PGA tour to negotiate with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which bankrolls the LIV Golf League (Jane Barlow/PA) — McIlroy, second left, and Woods, third left, are part of a seven-member transaction subcommittee created by the PGA Tour (Jane Barlow/PA)

Speaking after his four-under-par 67 in the opening round of the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina, McIlroy added: “I’ve already had calls with that group.

“I had a really good hour and a half Zoom with those guys on Sunday, we went through a 150-page doc about the future product model and everything.

“Yeah, I’m not on the board, but I’m in some way involved in that transaction committee. I don’t have a vote so I don’t, you know, I don’t have I guess a meaningful say in what happens in the future.

“But at least I can, I feel like I can be helpful on that committee, and that was sort of a compromise for I guess not getting a board seat.”