What is going on on with Rory McIlroy, Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods and the PGA Tour board?

On Wednesday morning, shortly after Rory McIlroy’s press conference on the Wells Fargo Championship, GOLF reached out to the PGA Tour curious in the event that they’d have official remark. Wednesday night we obtained one, from commissioner Jay Monahan:

“At this time’s information is by no means a commentary on Rory’s essential perspective and affect. It’s merely a matter of adherence to our governance course of by which a Tour participant turns into a Board member,” his assertion learn.

So what was “immediately’s information?” How’d it contain Monahan, McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Webb Simpson and Patrick Cantlay? Let’s cruise via what occurred.

I. There was a report about Rory

“At this time’s information” truly started a number of weeks in the past with a report from the Guardian that Webb Simpson could be stepping except for the PGA Tour Coverage Board and Rory McIlroy could be taking his place. That was intriguing as a result of McIlroy had resigned from the board only a few months earlier than. Now he’d be headed again?

“I feel I may very well be useful to the method,” he mentioned on the time, lamenting the months passed by with out important progress in negotiations with the Saudi Public Funding Fund. “However provided that individuals need me concerned, I suppose.”

II. Nothing occurred

For a few weeks. There was discuss of a vote, however the vote didn’t occur. So there was a report after which there was nothing. That appeared odd. It begged the query: Did related individuals in truth not need McIlroy concerned?

III. Rory didn’t be a part of the board

Sorry for spoiling the ending right here, however on Wednesday morning McIlroy spoke to assembled media following his morning pro-am at Quail Hole in Charlotte, N.C., and broke the information: No board return for him. (You’ll be able to learn Sean Zak’s full account here.)

McIlroy described it as “uncomfortable” and “sophisticated” and “messy.” He added that he thought the method “opened up some outdated wounds and scar tissue from issues which have occurred earlier than.” He put his hand as much as assist, he mentioned, however then issues obtained sophisticated. No cube. All of it sounded moderately painful.

“In order that’s all nice, no laborious emotions and we’ll all transfer on,” he mentioned, in search of a hopeful conclusion.

IV. Webb advised his aspect of the story

The following man on the microphone after McIlroy was, fittingly, Simpson. He lives close to Quail Hole and is taking part in on a sponsor’s exemption this week and he mentioned the McIlroy maneuver got here from a easy place: he simply desires to assist.

“So his perspective is super to us,” Simpson mentioned. “He’s a worldwide participant, at all times has been, so I simply assume his views are essential, and the opposite guys really feel the identical.”

Simpson added that McIlroy didn’t wish to trigger “any drama or massive tales,” however right here we’re. As for the concept different board members weren’t snug with McIlroy returning? He didn’t see it that method.

“No. I feel what we needed to work via was, you realize, the place may his function greatest be utilized,” Simpson mentioned. “There’s a number of completely different roles proper now that completely different gamers are taking part in on completely different committees or us on the coverage board or the enterprises board.”

That raised an fascinating risk, then: Even when McIlroy’s not on the coverage board, may he serve on one such committee?

V. The rumor mill ran wild

“Rumor mill” in all probability isn’t honest. There was probably some reality to all of it. However varied golf media institutions ran with McIlroy’s feedback and related the dots to make the belief that the coverage board triumvirate of Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods had been working collectively to dam McIlroy’s appointment. If true, that may be salacious; Spieth changed McIlroy within the fall in spite of everything, and Cantlay and McIlroy have Ryder Cup and coverage board beef courting again months, and Woods and McIlroy began a golf league collectively. It’s a small, entangled world.

It’s particularly entangled for McIlroy, a proven fact that’s seen as each a power and a weak spot for his board candidacy; he’s shut with the Fenway Sports activities Group, which is on the core of the PGA Tour’s new funding group SSG (Strategic Sports activities Group) and has a relationship with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the PIF and the chairman of LIV. Add in the truth that he’s World No. 2 and a worldwide famous person and McIlroy looks as if a person who may assist discover widespread floor or a person with conflicts of curiosity, relying who you requested.

6. The commissioner corrected the file

Monahan made it clear that McIlroy’s omission was “merely a matter of adherence to our governance course of.” It was telling that he made the assertion in any respect, and maybe an indication that Monahan is aware of higher than to let McIlroy twist within the wind.

Others conversant in the negotiations confirmed Monahan’s account; there was a procedural flaw within the unique plan. Simpson wasn’t permitted to make a conditional resignation naming his successor. That doesn’t imply the opposite elements didn’t play a job, however McIlroy’s appointment by no means reached the official voting stage.

“Webb remaining in his place as a member of the Coverage Board and PGA Tour Enterprises Board via the top of his time period offers the continuity wanted at this important time,” Monahan’s assertion continued. “We’re making progress in our negotiations with the PIF and are working as a collective — the Participant Administrators, our Boards and Tour administration — to stay open-minded to all avenues that advance the Tour in the very best curiosity of our gamers, our companions and, most significantly, our followers.”

7. An essential committee obtained named

How’s this for timing? Additionally on Wednesday, Tiger Woods was the lone participant named to the PGA Tour Enterprises’ five-person “transaction subcommittee” that can negotiate with the Saudi PIF; he’ll be joined by Monahan, coverage board chairman Joe Gorder, Fenway Sports activities Group’s John Henry and up to date board appointee Joe Ogilvie.

A number of sources referenced the potential of McIlroy becoming a member of that subcommittee in some capability regardless of not being a member of the coverage board. That will be a logical compromise, as it will keep away from the thorniness of a McIlroy board appointment whereas nonetheless tapping into his perspective and connections. He has made it clear that he feels a deal between golf’s warring factions is the clear greatest plan of action and this might signify an opportunity to assist make that occur.

However which events need the deal to get achieved? And inside what parameters? As with this whole saga, you need to consider the following concrete step while you see it.

Dylan Dethier

Golf.com Editor

Dylan Dethier is a senior author for GOLF Journal/GOLF.com. The Williamstown, Mass. native joined GOLF in 2017 after two years scuffling on the mini-tours. Dethier is a graduate of Williams School, the place he majored in English, and he’s the writer of 18 in America, which particulars the yr he spent as an 18-year-old residing from his automobile and taking part in a spherical of golf in each state.