Rory McIlroy Cites Family, Other Projects as Reasons for Leaving PGA Tour Policy Board

Rory McIlroy spoke for the first time since resigning from the PGA Tour Policy Board earlier this week, and at least publicly, the PGA Tour star says the departure has nothing to do with the negotiations going on with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) over the future business interests of the PGA Tour.

Speaking after his first round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Thursday, McIlroy said it just came down to time.

McIlroy said:

“I just think I’ve got a lot going on in my life between my golf game, my family and my growing investment portfolio, my involvement in TGL, and I just felt like something had to give. I just didn’t feel like I could commit the time and the energy into doing that.”

🗣️ “Something had to give”

Rory McIlroy explains why he has resigned from the PGA Tour’s policy board ⛳ pic.twitter.com/MhCY0C1neO

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 16, 2023

On Monday, it was reported that a marathon meeting among the PGA Tour Policy Board took place at PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and also included another famous member of the board—Tiger Woods.

McIlroy’s resignation was announced the following day—the same day that a memo was sent from PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan updating the membership on the talks with the PIF as well as plans to give PGA Tour members an ownership stake in the proposed new company that comes out of the deal with the Saudis, through financial backing from another entity, or a combination of the two.

McIlroy, of course, has been outspoken regarding his thoughts on the PIF and LIV Golf, but he said that it’s simply time to put his focus on his own orbit.

“I don’t mind being busy, but I just like being busy doing my own stuff. Something had to give and there’s guys that are on that board that are spending a lot more time and a lot more energy on it than I am. It’s in good hands and I felt like it was the right time to step off,” McIlroy explained.

McIlroy already clinched the season-long DP World Tour points title for the second year in a row as he chases a win in that series’ biggest event this weekend. As for the first day of the tournament, the Northern Irishman could be credited with the shot of the day.

Rory McIlroy’s tee shot lands on spectator ‘s lap! 🤯#DPWTC | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/Yklsw5Nqhq

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 16, 2023

Once he’s finished, he’ll have plenty of TGL business to focus on, specifically the collapse of the domed roof that was part of the structure that the made-for-TV league will be playing in this winter in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Cover Image via Fox News