Rory McIlroy outlines reasons for return to PGA Tour board

Rory McIlroy has outlined how he can be ‘helpful’ by re-joining the PGA Tour’s Policy Board.

The 34-year-old resigned from his position of power in November, citing professional and personal commitments.

When pressed on whether he enjoyed his time at the top table, McIlroy said: “Not particularly, no. Not what I signed for whenever I went on the board.”

But just months after stepping down, the Northern Irishman is set to re-join the board and assist the PGA Tour in striking a deal with the DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

“I think I can be helpful,” McIlroy said when asked before the Zurich Classic.

“I don’t think there’s been much progress made in the last eight months and I was hopeful that there would be. I think I could be helpful to the process. But only if people want me involved, I guess.”

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Should McIlroy be voted back in, he would replace Webb Simpson on the board of six player directors.

When Simpson told McIlroy about potentially leaving the board, he replied: “Look, if it was something that other people wanted, I would gladly take that seat’.

“That was the conversation we had,” McIlroy said. “I think that’s the whole reason. I feel like I can be helpful.

“I feel like I care a lot and I have some pretty good experience and good connections within the game and sort of around the wider sort of ecosystem and everything that’s going on.”

Despite emphatically rejecting the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league, McIlroy enjoys a strong relationship with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

However, McIlroy has admitted to sharing different opinions with fellow players, including Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth.

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McIlroy addressed that as an issue that need to be overcome for the betterment of the game.

On achieving unification in professional golf, he said: “Compromise, but also try to articulate your points as well as you can and try to help people see the benefits of what unification could do for the game and what it could do for this tour in particular.

“We obviously realise the game is not unified right now for a reason and there’s still some hard feelings and things that need to be addressed, but I think at this point, for the good of the game, we all need to put those feelings aside and all move forward together.”

Newly installed DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings has urged the PGA Tour to use McIlroy’s experience, knowledge and connections to resolve the division.

Meanwhile, McIlroy will make his debut in the Zurich Classic this week, alongside Ryder Cup playing partner Shane Lowry.

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.