Last week, the PGA Tour Policy Board saw an abrupt departure. The professional golfers’ body took a while to react and fill the void. Eventually, they have found their man in Jordan Spieth.

When Rory McIlroy stood down as a player-director, citing “professional and personal commitments” ahead of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, it was sort of unexpected. The Policy Board is a six-member body and other five members of the board voted for Spieth to replace the Northern Irishman.

Rory McIlroy out, Jordan Spieth in

McIlroy was to serve until 2024 and Spieth, a three-time Major winner, will see out the remainder of the term. Jay Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner, confirmed the change via an email, as claimed by NBC Sports. On its X handle, golf writer Rex Hoggard attested it, attaching a screenshot of Monahan’s email.

“With Rory McIlroy resigning from the PGA Tour Policy Board last week, per the PGA Tour Tournament Regulations, the five remaining Player Directors have elected Jordan Spieth to serve the remainder of Rory’s term which expires at the end of 2024,” Monahan wrote in the internal memo.

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The email added, “Jordan has extensive experience with the Tour’s governance process, having served two years on the Player Advisory Council (2017-18) including PAC Chairman in 2018 and three years (2019-21) as a Player Director.”

Apart from Spieth, the Policy Board will have Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Peter Malnati, Webb Simpson and Charley Hoffman, as five other player-directors. It also has six independent directors, with Edward Herlihy being the chair. The board’s job is basically to take policy decisions and look after the well-being of the players on the Tour.

Spieth’s appointment comes at a time when the PGA Tour is still in talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) for a new league. The fund also backs LIV Golf. Following McIlroy’s high-profile departure, however, the focus is expected to shift on Woods, who joined the board in August 2023 on players’ request. The legendary golfer so far has been pretty lukewarm towards the breakaway Tour.

‘Not Worth It’: Amid Rory McIlroy’s Sudden Resignation, 1X Major Winner Voices His Support With a Stern Message

From the fans’ perspective, Spieth’s appointment has seen mixed reactions. “I guess when the going gets tough, a true American hero has to step in and take care of business,” a fan replied to Hoggard’s post.

Double-edged sword

But another fan wrote: “Spieth (lack of success, things of that nature competitively) should be more focused on winning Major Championships, something not done in 6, will be 7 years!”

At a press conference in Dubai last week, fellow golfer Jon Rahm spoke about how he thought it would be difficult for the player-directors in the Policy Board to win more. “I can’t recall any great player being a full-time board member and winning tournaments and Majors at the same time, at least in recent history,” he had said.

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