After winning the Masters, Rory McIlroy has decided to skip the RBC Heritage – a decision that has cost him dearly in the past
Rory McIlroy’s withdrawal from the RBC Heritage has previously caused him problems(Image: Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy will not take part in the RBC Heritage this month – a decision that, back in 2023, saw him, slapped with a £2.2million fine. One of the PGA Tour’s signature events, traditionally held the week after the Masters, the Heritage is among the most lucrative in the calendar, boasting a $20m (£14.8m) prize fund – just $2.5m (£1.9m) shy of the purse at Augusta National.
After missing the cut at the Masters that year, McIlroy decided to skip the Heritage, which takes place on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in order to recalibrate and “get some things in place” after a tough few days in Georgia. “I had my reasons to not play Hilton Head and I’ve expressed those to [PGA Tour Commissioner] Jay [Monahan],” McIlroy said at the time.
“It was an easy decision, but I felt like if that fine or whatever is to happen was worth that for me in order to get some things in place.”
However, the Northern Irishman’s decision proved costly. Under PGA Tour rules at the time, players ranked in the top 20 of the Player Impact Program (PIP) were required to compete in all but one of the 17 designated signature events.
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OPINION
Andy Dunn
Having already skipped the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii earlier that year, McIlroy was forced to forfeit his share of the $12m (£8.9m) PIP bonus – amounting to £2.2m.
In 2024, the PGA Tour revised its rules to give top players greater flexibility. Instead of forcing participation, officials boosted prize money in an effort to make signature events too lucrative to miss.
Even so, McIlroy opted to sit it out after finally capturing the green jacket at Augusta last year. Having ended an 11-year wait for a major and completed a historic career Grand Slam, the Holywood native returned to Northern Ireland to celebrate with family and friends.
After successfully defending his title at Augusta on Sunday – becoming just the fourth player in history to win back-to-back Masters – McIlroy has once more chosen to skip the Heritage, instead taking a well-earned break following an intense battle to protect his lead over the weekend.
Rory McIlroy clinched his second successive Masters title on Sunday(Image: Getty Images)
He finished at 12 under par, one stroke clear of Scottie Scheffler, who missed a crucial birdie putt on the 17th that could have forced a nail-biting play-off – just like the one McIlroy endured against Justin Rose 12 months ago.
The 36-year-old topped the leaderboard at the end of every round. However, his commanding six-shot advantage after Friday was cut to just one heading into the final day, setting up a nervy finish.
But McIlroy held firm, showing little sign of pressure having banished the ghosts of his Masters heartbreaks the year before. “I can’t believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket and I get two in a row,” he said afterwards.
“I think all of my perseverance at this golf tournament over the years has really started to pay off. It was a tough weekend. I did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday. But just so, so happy to hang in there and get the job done.”
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