PGA Tour winner tears into Rory McIlroy’s time on PGA Tour Board

Rory McIlroy’s resignation from the PGA Tour Policy Board hasn’t gone down well with everyone.

PGA Tour winner Lanto Griffin has slammed the Northern Irishman for his involvement in the hierarchy, claiming he was ‘bought by the Tour’.

Griffin praised the four-time major champ’s approachable nature but argued the decisions made by the board stacked the odds against lower-ranked pros.

Speaking to Adam Schupak of Golfweek, the 35-year-old said: “Rory was great because he was approachable by everybody, but at the same time he was bought by the Tour.

“The head of the board has the same sponsors as the Tour and the Players, there’s influence there. The guy who’s running the board is being paid by all the title sponsors, it’s a little sketchy to me.

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“Give them all the money they want but when you start giving them the points, I’ve got a problem with that.

“The guys that are making the decision are obviously going to look out for themselves. That’s where there is a disconnect for guys in my position, the normal guys.

“Rory shouldn’t have an advantage over me in the FedEx Cup. If he wants $20 million purses and $100 million PIP money, take it. We don’t give a s**t. I told Rory this. I said, ‘Do you know what 70 per cent of the guys out here, their main goal is? To keep their job.’ He said, ‘Fair enough.’

“Every year there’s five to ten really good players that go back to Korn Ferry Tour that have been out here for a long time.

“Do you think Rory is worried about that? To have the deck stacked against us – we’re losing points, money, starts, it feels like, who’s making these decisions?

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“So, [it’s about] having someone who will listen and not be only concerned about the top ten.”

Griffin, who won the 2019 Houston Open, is competing on the back of major medical work last year to repair a disc in his back.

The American also branded Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa as part of an ‘elitist group’ who wouldn’t listen.

His belief is that Rory’s successor must be someone with experience on the Player Advisory Council (PAC) or board, but questioned why anyone would want the job.

“Brandt Snedeker just to throw a name out,” Griffin added.

“Someone who is respected by everybody but also has some perspective and isn’t just making $40 million to $50 million off the course and is going to be guaranteed to be in every elevated event.

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“A guy like (Kevin) Streelman would be great for the board. But seriously, who would want this job?

“I wouldn’t want this job. It’s like being president of the United States. You’d have to be a full-on narcissist to want that job.”

McIlroy resigned from the boardroom on Tuesday and detailed his reasons to Sky Sports after the opening round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

He said: “I’ve got a lot going on in my life between my golf game, my family, my growing investment portfolio and my involvement in TGL.

“I just felt like something had to give, and I didn’t feel like I could commit the time and energy into doing that.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.