Rory McIlroy explains reason for skipping | Golf News

Rory McIlroy has opted out of this week’s Memorial Tournament, scaling back his enjoying schedule. The prestigious PGA Tour occasion at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, boasts a $4 million winner’s share from the $20M whole purse and kicks off on Thursday. Despite being a crowd-pleaser, McIlroy might be noticeably absent.

Last yr at the TOUR Championship, the Northern Irishman shared his intent to scale back his match load, confessing to reporters that 27 occasions yearly have been overwhelming. When requested about an superb quantity, he stated: “I’m usually sort of like a 22 sort of person.”

He added, “But again, that was when I was sort of in my 20s and didn’t have the responsibilities that I do now. I’m going to try to cut it back to like 18 or 20 a year going forward, I think.”

Consequently, McIlroy has determined to skip the Memorial, breaking a seven-year streak of appearances. He is anticipated to return to motion at the Canadian Open next Thursday.

Currently ranked second in the Official World Golf Rankings, McIlroy has already had a profitable run on the PGA Tour this season.

The Holywood-born sensation started his season with a victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, adopted by one other triumph at the Players Championship the next month.

McIlroy’s third win of the yr was a long-awaited one, finally securing the elusive Green Jacket of the Masters on his seventeenth attempt in April, finishing his profession Grand Slam.

However, the highly-touted star has seen a slight dip in efficiency in subsequent occasions – dropping to T7 at the Truist Championship, and ending T47 at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.

McIlroy has also opted out of different marquee occasions this yr, including the Sentry and the RBC Heritage. Nonetheless, an exhilarating four-day occasion is anticipated, with rivals such as Wyndham Clark, Viktor Hovland, Colin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, and Scottie Scheffler all vying for the title at this yr’s match.

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Exemptions have also been granted to Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, and Brandt Snedeker. The Travelers Championship, the ultimate marquee occasion of the PGA schedule, will happen from June 19 to 22 at TPC River Highlands this yr – a match that McIlroy pulled out of final yr following his second-place end to Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open.

It’s still unsure whether or not he’ll compete this time, or if he’ll reserve his vitality for the 2 remaining main tournaments of the yr: the US Open at Oakmont Country Club, and the Open Championship at Royal Portrush.