Unexpected developments unfolded following the disclosure of officials voting against Rory McIlroy‘s rejoining of the policy board. Among those officials were Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, and Jordan Spieth. Speculation arose, with many suggesting that Cantlay’s decision might stem from the clash they had during the 2023 Ryder Cup.

Not just that, but hints of Spieth voting against also surfaced. However, what proved most astonishing was Tiger Woods’ vote. Given Woods and McIlroy’s close friendship, his vote against raised numerous questions. Among them is a more significant one: Is the relationship between Woods and McIlroy nearing a breakdown? Let’s delve deeper into this inquiry and uncover some answers.

What’s the present state of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s relationship?

As Woods voted against McIlroy, many began to speculate that their relationship might sour. Amidst this tension, McIlroy was questioned about their situation at the Wells Fargo Championship. When asked, “Is your relationship with Tiger strained at all through all of this?” The four-time major champion promptly replied without hesitation, stating, “I would say, I mean, I think friends can have disagreements or not see things—I guess not— not see eye to eye on things but have disagreements on things. I think that’s fine.”

McIlroy acknowledged the disparity in opinions, and further added, “But no, I wouldn’t say—we had a really good talk last Friday for 45 minutes just about a lot of different things.” Later, the 35-year-old concluded, “No, there’s no strain there. I think we might see the future of golf a little bit differently, but I don’t think that should place any strain on a relationship or on a friendship.” 

Although the Northern Irishman’s statement suggests that their friendship remains intact, there’s ongoing speculation that things could soon begin to shift. McIlroy has now adopted a more lenient stance regarding LIV Golf and LIV Golfers returning to the PGA Tour. In contrast, the 15-time major champion believes there should be repercussions when golfers seek to return to the PGA Tour.

The transition to LIV Golf has already strained the relationship between Woods and Jon Rahm. The vice chairman ceased responding to Rahm’s texts, as Rahm revealed to ESPN in February: “I mean, Tiger, I texted him and the people that try to reach out, you know, the process, when I signed and I just let him know, ‘Hey, you know, this is a personal decision. I have nothing against anybody,” but Woods didn’t respond.

Another longtime friend of Woods, and also a LIV Golfer, Bryson DeChambeau, expressed similar feelings last March to Golf Digest, stating, “He’s been a great friend. I texted him on his birthday, No text back after a birthday wish is tough.” Taking these instances into account, there’s a possibility that Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods could drift apart as friends, despite McIlroy’s denial, and this could potentially impact the TGL as well.

The impact of the relationship between Woods and McIlroy on TGL

Scheduled to launch in January 2025, TGL has the backing of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. The journey of TGL has been a rollercoaster ride right from the introduction of the concept of Team-simulated golf. In November, during the construction phase in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the SoFi Center, the designated venue for the event, experienced a partial roof collapse.

Furthermore, in March, the format announcement of TGL also encountered backlash from the community, eliciting criticism from fans. Among the six teams listed for TGL, Woods, and McIlroy each have their own separate teams. Therefore, if their relationship takes a turn for the worse, which is possible, it could introduce another layer of complexity to managing the simulated golf concept as a whole.

Despite the Northern Irishman’s denial of any fracture in their relationship at present, various circumstances and factors could alter the dynamics in the future. Do you think Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will be able to sustain their friendship amidst the tension surrounding McIlroy’s return and the PGA Tour-PIF deal? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!