Rory McIlroy reveals why he and Tiger Woods declined Nelly Korda’s request

Rory McIlroy, a Northern Irish professional golfer and co-founder of The Governors League (TGL), recently shared his perspective on the separate women's golf competition within the TGL format. This decision came in response to criticism from American golfer Nelly Korda, who expressed disappointment with the separate competition in January 2026.

McIlroy explained that the separate competition aimed to provide female professionals with a dedicated platform to showcase their abilities and personalities. He also highlighted the opportunity for male TGL players to attend matches and promote women's golf. Conversely, Korda preferred a mixed team competition, believing that bringing together male and female professionals could have offered a unique opportunity for professional golf.

She supported equal prize money for women and acknowledged the value of providing exposure for female golfers and their achievements through a dedicated competition. McIlroy clarified that TGL organizers had initially considered a mixed competition before opting for a separate league for female professional golfers. He pointed to the men's TGL competition as evidence that players could reveal different personalities through team golf, hoping WTGL would create similar opportunities for women beyond traditional tournaments.