Tiger Woods was reportedly one of three members of the PGA Tour Policy Board who was 'not eager' for Rory McIlroy to return with the two business partners 'falling out' in recent months.
McIlroy was a prominent figure on the policy board until November last year when he resigned, citing personal and professional commitment for stepping down.
But the four-time major champion looked set to make a shock return after it was reported that Webb Simpson offered his own resignation and requested McIlroy to take his place.
The move was supposedly subject to a vote and McIlroy has now claimed some members were 'uncomfortable' with his return.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have reportedly fallen out
GETTY
"There's been a lot of conversations," McIlroy said.
"Sort of reminded me partly why I didn't [stay on the board]. So yeah, I think it got pretty complicated and pretty messy.
"I think with the way it happened, I think it opened up some old wounds and scar tissue from things that have happened before.
"I think there was a subset of people on the board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason.
"McIlroy didn't name who he felt were against his reinstatement on the board, but it's been suggested Woods was one of those who don't see eye-to-eye with the Northern Irishman.
According to Golf Digest, Woods was one of three members of the board - including Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth - who 'were not particularly eager to welcome McIlroy back'.
The report adds that McIlroy's relationship with Woods has 'soured' in recent months.
It's suggested that has been a 'falling out' between the TGL business partners.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are business partners
PA
McIlroy took exception to comments made by Spieth earlier this year where he stated the PGA Tour no longer needed to strike a deal with PIF following the $3bn deal with Strategic Sports Group (SSG).
The comments from Spieth were backed publicly by Woods, who stated the PGA Tour doesn't need further investment from PIF.
But McIlroy held a different stance, who felt it risked ruining ongoing talks between the two major parties.
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Rory McIlroy will not be returning to the board
REUTERS
“My thing was if I’m the original investor that thought that they were going to get this deal done back in July, and I’m hearing a board member say that, you know, we don’t really need them, now, how are they going to think about that, what are they gonna feel about that?” McIlroy said.
“They are still sitting out there with hundreds of billions of dollars, if not trillions, that they’re gonna pour it into sport, and I know what Jordan was saying… but if I were PIF and I was hearing that, the day after doing this SSG deal, it wouldn’t have made me too happy.”
