Rory McIlroy to Miss Memorial Tournament for First Time Since 2017

Dublin, Ohio — Rory McIlroy will skip the Memorial Tournament next week, marking the first time since 2017 that the reigning Masters champion has not participated in the event. The tournament, hosted by Jack Nicklaus, is scheduled to take place from May 29 to June 1 at Muirfield Village.

This decision comes after McIlroy’s recent performance at the PGA Championship where he finished tied for 47th at three over par. Since his historic victory at the Masters on April 13, where he completed the career Grand Slam, McIlroy has managed two top-12 finishes. He tied for 12th at the Zurich Classic from April 24 to 27 and secured seventh place at the Truist Championship from May 8 to 11.

McIlroy, 36, is currently ranked second in the world and is expected to compete in the Canadian Open starting June 5, right before the U.S. Open scheduled for June 12-15 at Oakmont in Pennsylvania. The Memorial Tournament is the first of three signature events he has opted out of this season, following his absence from The Sentry and RBC Heritage.

After a disappointing finish at the PGA Championship, where he faced controversy regarding a driver switch, McIlroy did not address the media, keeping his thoughts private after four rounds at Quail Hollow. His last statement indicated a focus on improving performance in majors while managing his schedule better.

The Memorial Tournament will still see a competitive field, with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler returning as the defending champion. Other players committed to participating include Viktor Hovland and Tony Finau. Nicklaus continues to host the event that has taken place annually since its inception in 1976.

McIlroy’s absence will undoubtedly raise questions, particularly regarding his media silence following the PGA Championship, but he has indicated that his next outing will be the Canadian Open.