Rory McIlroy voiced his concern on the state of professional golf in the wake of Jimmy Dunne's resignation from the PGA TOUR policy board.
"It's really disappointing, and I think the TOUR is in a worse place because of it," McIlroy said during a brief press conference Wednesday.
He added: "My confidence level on something getting done before last week was as low as it had been, and 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."
Dunne abruptly resigned from the board Monday amid a lack of progress in negotiations between the TOUR and the Saudi backers of LIV Golf to reunite the world of men's professional golf. The move follows McIlroy's failed return to the board earlier this month.
Dunne - a Wall Street power broker who was one of the main architects of last year's framework agreement between the TOUR and the Saudi PIF - said in his resignation that his vote and role were "utterly superfluous" due to the player directors now holding the majority of seats on the board. Dunne said he hasn't been involved in talks with PIF since last June.
McIlroy didn't hold back when asked what he thought of the move.
"Jimmy was basically the relationship, the sort of conduit between the PGA TOUR and PIF, and it's been really unfortunate that he hasn't 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."
McIlroy was named to the transition committee as the TOUR plans to eventually continue negotiations with the Saudi PIF.
The 35-year-old made his remarks ahead of the PGA Championship at Valhalla, the site of his last major win a decade ago.
In 2014, the Ulsterman came in off the heels of a victory at Firestone and claimed his fourth major championship with a one-shot win. McIlroy will once again enter play off a win after running away from the field with an explosive final round at Quail Hollow last week.
