Rory McIlroy left PGA Tour players’ text chain after Jordan Spieth’s LIV Golf remarks
Rory McIlroy “removed himself” from a PGA Tour players’ group chat in the wake of comments made by Jordan Spieth over the proposed merger with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Spieth replaced McIlroy on the PGA Tour Policy Board in November when the Northern Irishman quit amid frustrations with tour leadership, plus a desire to spend more time with his family and work on his game. Spieth also had his hand in a decision to prevent McIlroy from rejoining the policy board.
The policy board has been at the forefront of the tour’s negotiations with PIF, which bankrolls the breakaway LIV Golf. PIF and the PGA Tour struck a framework agreement for a merger 11 months ago that would reunify professional golf, but there has been little progress since.
McIlroy was eager to return to the top table following a request from 2012 US Open champion Webb Simpson, who wanted to resign his role as a player director if he could select McIlroy as his replacement. But the Ulsterman confirmed on Wednesday he will not be rejoining the policy board.
