Reports of the deteriorating relationship between Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods came to life Thursday at the PGA Championship as a frosty exchange between the two men was caught on camera.
When the two crossed paths in Valhalla, they didn’t greet each other – let alone look at each other – during the first day of the tournament.
As of this writing, Woods is one over par through 10 holes while McIlroy is one under through 11.
The interaction – or lack thereof – comes amid reports from Golf Digest that the relationship between Woods and McIlroy has “deteriorated over the past six months” but “remains cordial.”
McIlroy resigned from his position on the PGA Tour board in November, although the Northern Irishman appeared set to return to the role in recent weeks as the organization continues its negotiations with LIV Golf.
Rory McIlroy (third from right) and Tiger Woods didn’t even recognize each other on Thursday
The two were known to be close friends, but their relationship has reportedly “deteriorated” in recent times.
However, the board reportedly voted against McIlroy’s re-inclusion, and according to The Telegraph, Woods was one of the player-managers who voted “no” to McIlroy’s return.
The board also includes Patrick Cantlay, Peter Malnati, Adam Scott and Jordan Spieth.
McIlroy acknowledged that “old wounds had been reopened” following his failed reinstatement to the board.
“It’s gotten pretty complicated and pretty complicated,” he said at the Wells Fargo Championship last week.
“With the way this happened, it opened up wounds and scars from things that happened before. And I think there was a subset of people on the board who were not comfortable with my return for some reason.
Woods and McIlroy were known to be close friends, but their positions diverge on how the PGA should handle the Saudi-backed LIV Tour.
McIlroy was initially an extremely vocal critic of the league, but made an about-face in April when he said the PGA needed to find a way to work with LIV and that golf’s current situation was ‘not sustainable’ .
Woods, meanwhile, has been less open to working with LIV following the PGA’s recent deal with Strategic Sports Group.
“Financially, we don’t need it right now,” he said.
The Northern Irishman and Erica Stoll married in 2017 (pictured at the 2023 Ryder Cup)
The amounts that they came to the table with and what we initially agreed to in the framework agreement, they’re all the same numbers. Anything beyond that will obviously be beyond that. We are in a great position right now.
McIlroy’s appearance at the PGA Championship comes amid his divorce from wife Erica Stoll, which was confirmed by his communications team earlier this week.
The couple had been married for seven years and shared a daughter, Poppy.
McIlroy’s communications team emphasized his “desire to ensure that this difficult time is as respectful and friendly as possible.”