McIlroy’s time off ‘exactly what he should be doing,’ PGA Tour commissioner says

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan expressed understanding for Rory McIlroy’s decision to withdraw from the Travelers Championship, the final signature event of the season, following his disappointing finish at the U.S. Open.

“Sometimes you just need to focus on what you need,” Monahan stated on Wednesday, the day before the tournament at TPC River Highlands near Hartford. “Rory is taking the time he needs, and that’s exactly what he should be doing because it’s what he believes is right for his path forward.”

McIlroy had a challenging close at Pinehurst No. 2, where he twice held a one-shot lead before bogeying three of the last four holes, missing crucial par putts from inside 4 feet. Instead of securing his fifth major and first in a decade, he watched Bryson DeChambeau win his second.

On Monday, McIlroy announced on social media that he would take a three-week break to “rebuild.” He plans to return to competition at the Scottish Open from July 10-13, where he is the defending champion, followed by the British Open at Royal Troon the subsequent week.

Without McIlroy, 71 players will compete in the no-cut, limited-field event at TPC River Highlands. McIlroy’s absence means he will be the only top-eight player in the world rankings or top-30 in the FedEx Cup standings missing the event.

Monahan remained optimistic about the tournament’s prospects, saying, “You look at the quality of the field we have this week; we’re going to have a great Travelers Championship. I’m looking forward to Rory’s return in Scotland.”

### Local Rivalries at the Travelers Championship

The Travelers Championship is the one time of year when Keegan Bradley, a native New Englander, has an edge over world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Not only is Bradley the defending champion at TPC River Highlands, but his Boston Celtics recently triumphed over Scheffler’s Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.

When asked about arriving in Celtics territory following their 18th NBA championship win, Scheffler quipped, “Do I have to answer that question?” He mentioned that he hadn’t received much ribbing on the course but declined a fan’s request to sign a Celtics hat.

Bradley, a fervent Boston sports fan who grew up in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, married the niece of baseball Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk. He described the thrill of visiting the Red Sox clubhouse and touring Fenway Park. The Travelers Championship presented Bradley with a wooden seat from Fenway at the tournament’s media day in April, which he described as “one of the coolest gifts” he’s ever received.

### Olympic Preview at the Travelers Championship

This year’s Travelers Championship will feature 22 players who have qualified for the Paris Olympics, including all four American golfers: Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele (defending gold medalist), Wyndham Clark, and Collin Morikawa. Other notable participants include Ludvig Aberg (Sweden), Viktor Hovland (Norway), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), and Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick.

Despite the Olympic tournament being an individual 72-hole stroke-play event, Morikawa noted the potential for a team-like atmosphere during preparation, similar to the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup. However, when competition begins, it’s all about individual performance.

Scheffler, making his Olympic debut, emphasized his focus on winning a medal for the USA and expressed excitement about experiencing other sports and the Olympic Village. He shared his enthusiasm for witnessing world-class athletes in action, particularly in sports like basketball and tennis.

The final rankings to determine Olympic spots were established after the U.S. Open, with countries limited to two players unless they have more within the top 15 world rankings. Golf returned to the Olympics in 2016 after a century-long absence, with this being its third appearance since then.

Scheffler is looking forward to the unique Olympic experience and the opportunity to see top athletes from various disciplines up close.