Rory McIlroy Skips FedEx St. Jude Championship Opener

MEMPHIS, Tennessee — Rory McIlroy will not compete in the FedEx St. Jude Championship next week, the first event of the PGA Tour‘s FedEx Cup playoffs. McIlroy’s absence was confirmed Friday when the PGA Tour released the list of competitors, which includes 69 players.

The top 70 golfers in the FedEx Cup standings after the Wyndham Championship qualify for the St. Jude Championship. However, McIlroy is currently ranked second in the standings, making his participation unnecessary for advancing to the next stage of the playoffs.

McIlroy, who won the Masters earlier this season, has struggled at the St. Jude Championship in the past and finished second-to-last in 2024. He previously expressed doubts about competing this year, stating, “I finished basically dead last there this year, and only moved down one spot in the playoff standings.”

The Northern Irish golfer has not played since finishing T-7 at the Open Championship two weeks ago. His focus appears to be on managing his schedule with a notable absence next week, allowing him to rest ahead of the BMW Championship, which will be held from August 14-17.

Winning at TPC Southwind carries a significant prize of $3.6 million, but McIlroy aims to preserve his energy for the remainder of the season, including the important Ryder Cup event scheduled in September. He has stated that he is looking forward to the upcoming weeks off to recharge for the competitions ahead.

After the BMW Championship, McIlroy has set his sights on European tournaments, including the Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship in September. He is expected to return to the United States afterward for the Ryder Cup, continuing his competitive season into late 2025.