Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy had ‘falling out’ and their relationship has reportedly ‘soured’ over PGA Tour Board drama in golf’s civil war

Rory McIlroy is aiming for glory at the Wells Fargo Championship yet again this weekend.

But the Northern Irishman has also found himself in the middle of yet more PGA vs LIV drama.

His name was back in the news this week after one of the world’s top golfers didn’t receive an expected return spot on the PGA Tour Policy Board.

“There’s been a lot of conversations. Sort of reminded me partly why I didn’t,” McIlroy said. “I think it got pretty complicated and pretty messy, and I think with the way it happened, I think it opened up some old wounds and scar tissue from things that have happened before.”

A new wound has reportedly developed between Tiger Woods and McIlroy.

Woods was not “eager” to welcome McIlroy back to the PGA Tour Board, according to Golf Digest.

There’s also been a personal fracture between two of the biggest names in golf.

“The McIlroy-Woods relationship has also soured over the past six months,” the outlet claimed. “It remains cordial, yet their different views on the future of professional golf has led to a falling out of sorts.”

McIlroy shrugged off the drama to have a strong start in his Quail Hollow return, finishing the first round at 4-under and tied for second place.

Asked about Woods, he said: “I mean, I think friends can have disagreements or not see eye to eye on things. I think that’s fine.

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“We had a really good talk last Friday for 45 minutes, just about a lot of different things. 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.”

Xander Schauffele, who also dealt with drama, leads at 7-under heading into Friday.

McIlroy, 35, has 25 PGA Tour wins and more than $83 million in career earnings.

He’s looking to win his fourth Wells Fargo title this week.

It wasn’t long ago that Woods was praising McIlroy’s golf game.

Woods said before the 2024 Masters that he fully believed McIlroy would eventually win the one major tournament that has eluded him.

“No question he’ll do it at some point,” Woods said. “Rory is too talented and too good.

“He’s going to be playing this event for a long time, he’ll get it done. It’s just a matter of when.”

McIlroy appreciated the supportive words from Woods, who’s still the biggest name in golf.

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“It’s nice to hear [from] in my opinion – the best player to have ever played the game – say something like that,” McIlroy said.

Woods and McIlroy are expected to be back together next week at the US PGA Championship at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.

But first McIlroy has to try and win the Wells Fargo at Quail Hollow again.

And get through another week of off-the-course drama.

“Unity between the PGA Tour and PIF doesn’t solely hinge on McIlroy’s participation,” Golf Digest wrote. “But Wednesday’s development doesn’t help, to say nothing of the optics of the internal politics at play with the tour.

“Until those fissures are fixed, it’s unlikely that golf’s civil war will thaw anytime soon.”