Rory McIlroy divorce, LIV drama take backset to golf as PGA Championship tees off

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — They’ll begin the second major championship of 2024 on Thursday. Balls in the air at 7:15 a.m., with the first tee times for the PGA Championship at Valhalla.

That’s when the golf world can turn its weary eyes from the ongoing soap opera in which the game finds itself to what’s much more compelling — amazing golf shots, pursuit of history and raw competition.

Pre-tournament buzz has been more about Rory McIlroy’s impending divorce after seven years of marriage than it’s been about golf.

It’s been about world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the reigning Masters champion, welcoming his first child into the world with his wife, Meredith, over the weekend and whether he’ll be mentally ready to compete.

It’s been about the state of the divided sport with no agreement of any sort seemingly even close to getting done between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf — particularly since the news of powerful Jimmy Dunne’s resignation from the PGA Tour’s policy board.

It’s been about whether Tiger Woods’ ailing body can possibly hold up for four days and 72 holes, and allow him to get into contention again in a major.

McIlroy looked beleaguered when he arrived to the interview tent Wednesday.

News of him filing for divorce from his wife of seven years, Erica, with whom he has a daughter, broke on Tuesday.

McIlroy, through the PGA of America, said he would not take any questions about his personal life.

His interview session was barely 10 minutes, about half the time most players spend taking questions.

One thing McIlroy did address was the departure of Dunne, and he painted a bleak picture.

“Honestly, I think it’s a huge loss for the PGA Tour, if they are trying to get this deal done with the PIF [the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which runs LIV] and trying to unify the game,’’ McIlroy said. “Jimmy was basically the relationship, the sort of conduit between the PGA Tour and PIF.

“It’s been really unfortunate that he has not been involved for the last few months, and I think part of the reason that everything is stalling at the minute is because of that. So it is, it’s really, really disappointing. I think the Tour is in a worse place because of it.

“I would say my confidence level on something getting done before last week was as low as it had been, and then with this news of Jimmy resigning and knowing the relationship he has with the other side, and how much warmth there is from the other side, it’s concerning.’’

Jordan Spieth, who’s on the PGA Tour players’ board, said Dunne not being involved anymore in the negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV “is a loss.’’

Then there was a curious exchange with reporters from Jon Rahm, who was the biggest fish LIV lured to its tour.

Rahm, usually an excellent voice of reason, sounded almost in denial that there is any true schism between the two tours.

“You guys [reporters] keep saying ‘the other side,’ but I’m still a PGA Tour member, whether suspended or not,’’ Rahm said, referring to the PGA Tour banning LIV players from playing in its sanctioned events — other than majors, which are separate entities. “I still want to support the PGA Tour. I think that’s an important distinction to make. I don’t feel like I’m on the other side. I’m just not playing there [on the PGA Tour].

“The PGA Tour has given me so much and has given me this platform and the opportunity that I’m not really going to turn to the side and go against it, because I’m not going against it.’’

Except that he did.

“I’m going to say what I’ve said all along: I hope we reach a resolution and a resolution that’s beneficial for everyone,’’ Rahm said. “I think we have a position to set up golf in a very positive way for decades to come, and you need the people that do this for a living that are far smarter than I am to get together to come together to be able to make it work.’’

Max Homa called the state of the game “very troubling,’’ adding, “I don’t like where it’s going.’’ He said he feels sorry for the golf fans who are caught up having to listen to all the drama.

“It’s got to be exhausting to be a casual golf fan at this point in time,’’ Homa said. “I don’t know why you would want to hear about the business side of this game.’’

Beginning Thursday morning, the only business that matters for the next four days is what take place on the golf course.

And that’ll be a refreshing respite.