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Paul McGinley Image Credit: Supplied

Paul McGinley has decided to step down as a DP World Tour Board Member to avoid, in part, being accused of having a conflict of interest with his media roles.

The 56-year-old was appointed to the Board of the European Tour, as it was then, in 2016 – two years after leading Europe to victory at the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

As well as competing on the Legends Tour, McGinley has since taken up various media roles in recent years, appearing on both Sky Sports in the UK and as a Golf Channel analyst in the US.

McGinley announced his decision on Twitter and revealed that he had two reasons for giving up his position on the DP World Tour Board – one for personal reasons and the other to avoid criticism.

“Clearing things up as many seem to want to read more into it – I did not renew my contract as a DPWT Board member for 2 reasons,” McGinley wrote on Twitter. “1. Personal circumstances and 2. As transparency is so important to me I did not like being accused of being in conflict with my media roles.”

McGinley ended his statement by saying: “I stand by all the big decisions made over the last few years and have full faith in KP [European Tour Group CEO Keith Pelley], his team and the Board going forward to continue making logical decisions that best position the DPWT for the challenges ahead.”