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Rory McIlroy has had one other busy schedule this season. However this week, he discovered a solution to reduce his workload.
McIlroy elected to skip the St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, a lot to the dismay of at the very least one PGA Tour organizer. Peter Malnati, a participant director on the PGA Tour Coverage Board, mentioned he was “very involved” by McIlroy’s determination.
The FedEx St. Jude Championship serves as the primary leg of the playoffs. The BMW Championship is the playoff’s second leg, whereas the Tour Championship later this month in Atlanta will conclude the 2025 postseason.
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Rory McIlroy walks off the primary tee in the course of the first spherical of the U.S. Open golf event. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Photos)
McIlroy’s selection appeared to immediate PGA Tour officers to mull a rule change that might mathematically lock in sure gamers to the second and third playoff legs.
2025 FEDEX ST. JUDE CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD: FULL LIST OF GOLFERS FOR FIRST LEG OF PLAYOFFS
McIlroy and PGA Tour playoffs top-seeded golfer Scottie Scheffler accrued so many factors from occasions all through the season that their leads would maintain them throughout the top-50 and top-30 thresholds that the upcoming tournaments mandate. The Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta brings the yr’s top-30 gamers collectively for a shot on the FedEx Cup trophy.
Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the eighth gap in the course of the second spherical of the RBC Canadian Open golf event. (Dan Hamilton/Imagn Photos)
Malnati hinted {that a} rule change was presumably on the horizon. “I feel there may be stuff within the works, and I am going to depart it at that,” he instructed GolfWeek.
In the meantime, Jordan Spieth pushed again in opposition to the thought McIlroy’s actions would be the begin of a pattern for different gamers. Spieth beforehand served because the PGA Tour coverage participant director.
“You may need 1-2 guys try this for an occasion, however I do not suppose it should turn into a factor as a result of they’re nonetheless big occasions in opposition to the most effective gamers on the planet,” Spieth mentioned. “I feel they’re making an attempt to determine learn how to ensure you do not skip each of them and ideally neither of them.”
McIlroy’s absence was not utterly surprising, contemplating he beforehand hinted that he was considering skipping this yr’s St. Jude Championship.
Rory McIlroy walks off of the no. 13 inexperienced in the course of the first spherical of the Masters Event. (Katie Goodale/Imagn Photos)
“There’s just a few tournaments that I performed this yr that I do not often play and that I may not play subsequent yr,” McIlroy instructed The Telegraph in Nov. 2024.
“I performed the Cognizant in Palm Seashore Gardens, (the Valero Texas Open in) San Antonio and (the RBC Heritage at) Hilton Head. And I am going to most likely not play the primary playoff occasion in Memphis. I imply, I completed mainly lifeless final there this yr and solely moved down one spot within the playoff standings.”
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Regardless of lacking the primary leg of the postseason, McIlroy is predicted to compete within the penultimate occasion of the playoffs in Baltimore and the ultimate leg in Atlanta later this month. The Northern Irishman can also be slated to be lead participant for Europe on this yr’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York.
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Chantz Martin is a sports activities author for Fox Information Digital.
