With the PGA Tour entering one of its most critical stretches, many fans and players are wondering—where’s Rory McIlroy?
The Northern Irish star, currently ranked second in the world, has chosen to sit out the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis.
While it’s not entirely unexpected, some within the golf community are expressing serious concern over his absence.
A Big Name Missing from a Big Tournament
The St. Jude Championship, hosted at TPC Southwind, marks the opening round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs and carries major significance, not just competitively, but commercially—especially as it bears the name of one of the tour’s top sponsors.
Yet, McIlroy, a five-time major champion, is the only eligible player skipping the event.
His absence is hard to ignore, particularly as it raises questions about the playoff system’s credibility.
Fellow Players Speak Out
Peter Malnati, both a fellow PGA Tour competitor and a player director on the Tour’s Policy Board, didn’t hide his unease when speaking to Golfweek.
“I’m very concerned,” he admitted, pointing out the implications of a top player opting out of such a high-profile event.
It’s not the first time Rory has sat out this season, and unfortunately for Malnati and others hoping for stricter participation, there’s currently no rule forcing him to play.
Points and Privilege: McIlroy’s Safety Net
Despite missing the event, McIlroy’s position in the FedEx Cup standings remains secure.
He’s sitting in second place with 3,444 points—well behind Scottie Scheffler, but still a healthy 849 points ahead of Sepp Straka in third.
Because of the playoffs’ progressive elimination format, McIlroy is essentially guaranteed a spot in next week’s BMW Championship in Maryland.
And unless something drastic changes, he’ll make it to the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta as well.
His Track Record Says It All
This isn’t the first time Rory has skipped a playoff round with little consequence.
He even referenced last year’s St. Jude Championship, where he finished near the bottom of the leaderboard and barely dropped a spot in the rankings.
“I mean, I finished basically dead last there this year, and only moved down one spot in the playoff standings,” he said in 2024.
His performance—combined with his strong overall record this season—makes it easy for him to play the long game.
Money Talks, But Rules Might Be Changing
So far this year, McIlroy has raked in about $10 million, thanks largely to his Masters win and other top finishes.
However, some players and officials believe the current system has too many loopholes—allowing stars like Rory to skip major playoff events without serious penalties.
Malnati hinted that changes could be coming: “I think there is stuff in the works, and I’ll leave it at that.”
Not Everyone Agrees on a Fix
Webb Simpson, another member of the PGA Tour Policy Board, isn’t as hopeful.
He emphasized the unique nature of golf as a sport where athletes generally have the freedom to choose when and where they compete.
“I think it’s too hard of a thing to make guys have to play,” Simpson told Golfweek.
“We’re still a sport where you can play when you want to play.”
$20 Million on the Line Without McIlroy
Even without one of its biggest stars, the FedEx St. Jude Championship tees off on Thursday, offering a massive $20 million purse.
The question now is whether the tournament—and the playoffs as a whole—can maintain their integrity and excitement without mandatory appearances from the sport’s elite.
What Happens Next?
As McIlroy gears up for the next round of playoffs, many are watching to see if the PGA Tour will tweak the system to keep top players more accountable.
For now, though, the conversation continues—and so do the playoffs, with or without one of golf’s biggest names.