Rory McIlroy shares plan to skip PGA Tour events after being handed £2.3m fine

Rory McIlroy has announced that he will reduce his PGA Tour schedule in 2025, prioritizing events he truly enjoys as he enters his 18th year on tour. At 35, the world’s third-ranked golfer says he is increasingly selective with his calendar, marking a shift away from the exhaustive schedule that used to see him competing in as many as 30 tournaments per season.

McIlroy hinted that he might skip the RBC Heritage, a tournament he was fined £2.3 million for missing in 2023. The event, held annually the week after the Masters, was previously designated as mandatory under the PGA Tour’s “signature events” framework. However, with that requirement no longer in place, McIlroy is less inclined to participate in it next season. Reflecting on his decision, he stated that he would only participate in events that he finds enjoyable and where he feels he can perform at his best.

“There are a few tournaments I entered this year that I don’t typically play, and I probably won’t play them next year,” McIlroy shared in a conversation with The Daily Telegraph. “I played in events like the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, the Texas Open in San Antonio, and the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, but I might skip them in 2025. I’ll likely pass on the first playoff event in Memphis, too. I finished close to last there this year [tied for 68th in a 70-player field] and only slipped one spot in the playoff rankings.”

As a veteran of the tour, McIlroy emphasized that he has reached a point in his career where he wants to focus on select, meaningful tournaments rather than pushing through an extensive schedule. “Look, I’ve done the hard slog,” he explained. “Playing 25 to 30 events a year has been my routine, but I’m not getting any younger. I’d rather compete where I feel comfortable and can play well.”

McIlroy’s decision to cut back on certain tournaments follows the controversial fine he received for opting out of the RBC Heritage in 2023. The Northern Irishman acknowledged that he was well aware of the potential consequences of skipping the designated event but felt that the decision was justified for his personal well-being. “We have our minimums, and we signed up for the designated-event series. I knew there could be repercussions for missing one, but the decision was easy. I felt that the time off was worth it to address some priorities,” McIlroy explained.

In addition to his selective approach to scheduling, McIlroy has recently been working to refine his game. He disclosed that he has been focusing on his swing mechanics in a practice studio, concentrating on his body movement rather than the ball’s trajectory. McIlroy is keen on securing another major championship, a milestone that has eluded him for the past decade.