{"id":46940,"date":"2025-08-06T04:15:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T04:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/46940\/"},"modified":"2025-08-06T04:15:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T04:15:09","slug":"rory-mcilroy-sparks-concern-among-fellow-players-by-skipping-the-first-leg-of-pga-tour-playoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/46940\/","title":{"rendered":"Rory McIlroy sparks concern among fellow players by skipping the first leg of PGA Tour playoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"

By ALEX RASKIN, US SPORT NEWS EDITOR<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 14:47 EDT, 5 August 2025 | Updated: 16:06 EDT, 5 August 2025 <\/p>\n

Rory McIlroy<\/a>‘s latest absence from the PGA Tour isn’t a surprise, but it is worrying to his rivals working to legitimize the FedEx Cup playoffs.<\/p>\n

The five-time major winner is skipping this week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis at TPC Southwind, where he will be the only eligible player not participating in a tournament named for the circuit’s top sponsor.<\/p>\n

Asked about the world’s No. 2 opting out of one of the playoffs’ three legs, rival golfer and PGA Tour Policy Board player director Peter Malnati told Golf Week<\/a> he was ‘very concerned.’<\/p>\n

Unfortunately for Malnati, there’s not much the tour can do to stop McIlroy from skipping a third event this season. With 3,444 points in the FedEx Cup standings, second only to Scottie Scheffler<\/a>, McIlroy has a comfortable 849-point cushion over third-place Sepp Straka.<\/p>\n

And since the current FedEx Cup format features a progressive cut, McIlroy can count on advancing to next week’s BMW Championship in Owings Mills, Maryland<\/a>. From there, provided he remains in the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings, McIlroy would advance to the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.<\/p>\n

McIlroy actually played in the St. Jude Championship last year, finishing at the bottom of the filed without much of a penalty.<\/p>\n

\"Rory <\/p>\n

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland acknowledges the crowd on the 18th hole during day four of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 20<\/p>\n

\"Peter <\/p>\n

Peter Malnati of the United States prepares to play his shot from the second tee during the first round of the Barracuda Championship 2025 at Tahoe Mountain Club<\/p>\n

‘I mean, I finished basically dead last there this year, and only moved down one spot in the playoff standings,’ he told reporters in 2024.<\/p>\n

McIlroy has already earned $10 million this year thanks to a Masters win and other successes. But the loophole that allowed him to skate by to the second leg of the postseason could be up for review.<\/p>\n

‘I think there is stuff in the works and I’ll leave it at that,’ Malnati told Golfweek.<\/p>\n

Tour Policy Board member Webb Simpson didn’t so quite so optimistic.<\/p>\n

‘I think it’s too hard of a thing to make guys have to play,’ Simpson told Golfweek. ‘We’re still a sport where you can play when you want to play.’<\/p>\n

The FedEx St. Jude Championship starts Thursday with $20 million in prize money at stake.<\/p>\n

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