Former Masters champ delivers unsurprising Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy verdict

Former world number one Adam Scott has offered his thoughts amid PGA Tour boardroom drama involving Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

Ben Smith

13 May 2024

Former Masters champion Adam Scott has played down the PGA Tour boardroom drama involving Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated, the Australian claimed what happened last week became 'bigger drama than was really needed'.

Scott was referring to the fact McIlroy was blocked by Woods, Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth from returning to the policy board to help the North American circuit negotiate a deal with LIV Golf's financiers.

Related:

McIlroy walked away from his board position five months ago in an apparent huff but changed his mind after it was apparent little progress has been made between the two tours.

Player director Webb Simpson offered to give up his seat before the Wells Fargo Championship but only on the condition his position was filled by McIlroy.

A few PGA Tour members took issue with this.

It did not matter in the end as Cantlay, Spieth and Woods blocked McIlroy's return.

And Simpson will now serve his full term.

For his part, McIlroy insisted there was no bad feelings for the snub and, whilst he admitted he viewed the future of men's professional golf differently to Woods, there is no strain to his relationship.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan insisted the fact McIlroy wasn't allowed back on the board was strictly a 'governance issue'.

Monahan's statement was viewed dimly by golf fans.

From the outside looking in, you would be forgiven for thinking it's pure chaos behind-the-scenes.

Scott disagrees completely and told SI: "I don't see it that way at all."

He added: "It became a bigger drama than was really needed. Ultimately we got to a really positive outcome. Tiger and Rory are both going to be right there before anything goes beyond that committee.

"And I think that’s really important at the end of the day that Tiger has a say in how professional golf shakes out on the PGA Tour, something he’s really influenced the evolution of

“And Rory is the most influential active player. Tiger’s not quite as active as Rory. But Rory’s had a strong voice over the last couple of years.

"Whatever the result, if they achieve a result together, it’s unquestionable whatever that result is and it’s all positive moving forward.”

Despite not being on the board, McIlroy has been named as one of the players on the 'transaction subcommittee' that will negotiate with LIV's financiers.

In other words, McIlroy will have his voice heard but he won't have a vote on final matters.

McIlroy is known to have frequently met with with LIV mastermind and powerful Saudi businessman Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

The Northern Irishman has insisted his meetings have never been to discuss a potential switch to LIV.

No offer has ever been tabled to join LIV, McIlroy previously said.

And nor would he ever entertain one after he said robustly: "I will play on the PGA Tour for the rest of my career."

But his relationship with Al-Rumayyan will be key, according to Scott.

Scott said: "To be totally honest, I think Rory is going to be incredibly helpful having that line of communication he has with Yasir.

"I think we’ll get to a good place. I’m really positive. I think it’s all moving in a good spot. Even though it seems rather tumultuous but it probably realistically wasn’t going to happen that fast anyway.

“And when these guys who have done a lot of deals through their lives say this is the most complex thing they’ve ever seen ... I can only imagine.”

Checked out our podcast yet?

Listen to The Par FORE Podcast presented by GolfMagic: