The 34-year-old McIlroy began his tenure as chairman of the PGA Tour’s player advisory committee in 2021 and became a player director on the board in 2022.
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However, McIlroy acknowledges that his role as a player director is not exactly what he signed up for last season, given the state of golf today, when the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) are attempting to get their bombshell framework agreement passed in the courts.
After the deal with Saudi PIF on June 6, PGA Tour Enterprises was established as the new organization.
In the event that the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Saudi PIF—the financiers of the Tour’s adversary, LIV Golf League—merge, the top division of men’s professional golf as it currently exists will be significantly altered.
According to Bloomberg, there are “likely to be pushed back due to a range of issues” the original deadline of December 31, 2023, for the PGA Tour and Saudi PIF combination to become final.
When the media questioned McIlroy about if he is currently enjoying his position as player director on the PGA Tour ahead of this week’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, he responded as follows:
“Not particularly, no. Not what I signed for whenever I went on the board. But yeah, the game of professional golf has been in flux for the last two years.“The overall game I think is in really good shape. But everyone focuses on this top level because it is what it is, and it’s an entertainment product and it’s a show, but the faster that it gets rectified, I think the better for everyone.”
Reporters also questioned McIlroy about his belief that the PGA Tour and Saudi PIF will be able to reach an agreement in 2024.
All the World No. 2 wants is a decision, and a quick one.
McIlroy said,
“I think getting something done sooner rather than later is a good thing, because you know, even if we get a deal done, it doesn’t mean that it’s actually going to happen. That’s up to the United States government at that point, and whether the Department of Justice think that it’s the right thing to do or whether anti-competitive or whatever. Even if a deal does get done, it’s not a sure thing. So yeah, we are just going to have to wait and see. But in my opinion, the faster something gets done, the better.”
Tiger Woods was summoned to a “significant board meeting” at PGA Tour headquarters yesterday. In August, he became the sixth player to serve on the PGA Tour’s policy board.
Woods became the last player on the board to join McIlroy, Webb Simpson, Charley Hoffman, Patrick Cantlay, and Peter Malnati.
Players now own half of the twelve-seat board, giving them more influence over the PGA Tour’s future.
That’s the reason why McIlroy and Woods are both greatly influencing the PGA Tour.
In January 2024, McIlroy and Woods’ tech-enhanced golf league (TGL) will begin play.
