The Northern-Irishman has spoken out amid rumours of a feud between the two golfers

Rory McIlroy has insisted there’s no ‘strain’ in his relationship with Tiger Woods – but does admit they have different views on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

It was recently suggested that Woods was one of three members on the PGTA Tour Policy Board who was ‘not eager’ for McIlroy to return.

Golf Digest even claimed the pair had ‘fallen out’ in recent months, sending shockwaves through the golfing world in the process.

McIlroy was previously a prominent figure on the policy board before stepping away in November last year.

He had been expected to make a return but Woods, it was claimed, voted against the Northern-Irishman replacing Webb Simpson.

Negotiations remain ongoing between a possible deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, which is backed by Saudi Arabia.

Yet McIlroy, per the BBC, has now shut down suggestions of a rift between the two men – insisting there’s ‘no strain there’.

“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,” he said.

“I think that’s fine. But no, I wouldn’t say – 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.”

Woods and Adam Scott are on a five-member subcommittee that will be negotiating with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund as they look to reach an agreement.

And McIlroy says that, while he’s not on the board, he’s still involved in attempting to resolve the matter.

“I’ve already had calls with that group – I had a really good hour and a half Zoom with those guys on Sunday,” he admitted.

“We went through a 150-page doc about the future product model and everything.

“Yeah, I’m not on the board, but I’m in some way involved in that transaction committee.

“I don’t have a vote so I don’t – you know, I don’t have I guess a meaningful say in what happens in the future.”

McIlroy had previously claimed earlier this week that some board members were ‘uncomfortable’ with the prospect of him potentially returning to the fold.

“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.”

Last month, meanwhile, there were rumours that McIlroy could join LIV Golf.

But the 35-year-old shot them down by saying: “I honestly don’t know how these things get started.

“I’ve never been offered a number from LIV, and I’ve never contemplated going to LIV.

“Again, I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me.

“It doesn’t mean I judge people that have went and played over there.

“I think one of the things that I have realised over the past two years is that people can make their own decisions for whatever they think is best for themselves, and who are we to judge them for that?

“But personally for me, my future is here on the PGA Tour, and it’s never been any different.”

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Source: USA Today