Golf fans crack obvious Webb Simpson joke over PGA Tour policy board resignation

A number of golf fans on X jumped at the opportunity to crack jokes about Webb Simpson accepting sponsor exemptions into signature PGA Tour events without a backlash after he resigned from the policy board to pave the way for Rory McIlroy to return. 

According to the Guardian, Simpson has resigned from his position and asked that he be replaced by the four-time major champion. 

McIlroy, 34, has confirmed to Sky Sports News the report is true but his return is subject to a vote later this week. 

"I'd rather the men's professional golf landscape survived this," McIlroy said. "So I'm happy to do my bit."

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Simpson, along with Peter Malnati, was elected to the board in February 2022, replacing Kevin Kisner and James Hahn. 

The 38-year-old has been one of the only player directors who have gone into detail about the Tour's discussions with the PIF of Saudi Arabia to ratify last June's framework agreement. 

For example, Simpson has given extensive interviews to Golfweek where he has spoken at length on the subject. 

In February, he told the publication how the Tour were thinking of reintegrating LIV players - should they desire - and how likely a deal with PIF was to happening. 

In the middle of all this, though, was the fact that Simpson has continually been given sponsor exemptions into the signature events which offer prize purses of at least $20m. 

Simpson's appearance at the RBC Heritage last week, won by Scottie Scheffler, marked the fourth occasion this season he has received a sponsor invite. 

The optics aren't great, to say the least. 

Qualifying for signature events, we have been told, are meant to be based on meritocracy. 

"More cartoonish behaviour from the Tour," NLU's Tron Carter wrote on X reacting to the news of Simpson's resignation. 

"Presumably so Webb can hoover up all manner of sponsor invites to signature events with no backlash."

Another added: "That dude is barely on Tour."

This user twisted the knife: "Webb Simpson has no place in signature events."

Despite the backlash, Simpson defended his position before the RBC Heritage. 

He told Golfweek: "I totally can see it and I don’t disagree.

"I’m in a tough place because I’m on the board and the signature events concept was crafted at the board level. 

"If Adam gets four and I get four, sure, I know people are going to be saying things.

“I told another player this year who had an issue with board members getting spots. 

"I said, ‘I know it looks political'. I would argue it’s not political at all. The relationships I built, I built over a long period of time. 

"I told this player that if we got something wrong, if we missed something, we want to learn from it.

"I gladly accept people’s criticism and feedback. I hope I’m not in this position again. 

"It’s a tough place to be knowing that some players have an issue with it.”

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