Do these Rory McIlroy Netflix comments explain why he's skipping RBC Heritage
Rory McIlroy said PGA Tour players were 'blindsided' by the mandatory clause with the designated events.
Rory McIlroy has seemingly ruffled plenty of feathers in the golf world this week after going against the initial rules and skipping a second designated event on the PGA Tour. But perhaps we shouldn't be so surprised given certain comments McIlroy made on the Netflix 'Full Swing' docu-series, which aired earlier this year.
McIlroy shockingly missed the cut at The Masters last week and then chose to skip this week's RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, which has attracted its greatest ever field as a result of its new designated status and inflated prize purse.
The World No.3 didn't speak to the media after packing his bags out of Georgia and he has still given no reason for his withdrawal this week, which would lead us to assume he just felt tired and flat after another year of missing out on completing the career grand slam at famed Augusta National.
UPDATE: RORY DOCKED HUGE MONEY BY PGA TOUR AFTER SKIPPING RBC HERITAGE
McIlroy was supposed to be competing in this week's tournament as it was one of the PGA Tour's 17 designated events of the season. This status, or so we thought, means it is mandatory for the top players on the PGA Tour to compete in unless they have a valid medical exemption.
Initially we were told by the PGA Tour that McIlroy and his fellow top-20 ranked peers would have to play in all of the designated events of the season, which includes the four majors. That then quickly changed to 'they can miss one event if they want'.
It was believed the top players would be liable to losing a percentage of their income from the Player Impact Program (PIP) if they skipped more than one of the designated events.
This was all part of the PGA Tour's wider plan to keep their top names on side with inflated purses and end-of-season rewards in order to stop them from jumping ship to the Saudi-bankrolled LIV Golf League.
McIlroy missed his 'one event' straight out the gate at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii in the first week of 2023.
But fast forward to the second week of April and McIlroy has now missed a second designated event at the RBC Heritage.
However, should we really be surprised?
McIlroy is the face of the PGA Tour, after all.
McIlroy wasn't even a fan of this 'mandatory' setup from the very start.
At least surrounding the four new elevated tournaments on the schedule:
- WM Phoenix Open
- RBC Heritage
- Wells Fargo Championship
- Travelers Championship
This is something we discovered in the recent Netflix 'Full Swing' docu-series back in February 2023.
Speaking to PGA Tour executive Andy Pazder about the designated events during a players' meeting in August 2022, McIlroy said:
It would also sound like Jordan Spieth isn't best pleased with the condensed schedule, especially with a designated event falling straight after the first major of the season.
This week's RBC Heritage marks the seventh designated event of the season.
Spieth, who finished tie fourth at The Masters, said:
According to golf biographer Alan Shipnuck, McIlroy will still be able to collect his cash at the end of the season because PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan has "absolute power" in this regard to change the rules and keep his top players happy.
He will be docked heavily, though.
Shipnuck tweeted on Tuesday:
Monahan previously stated that he has discretion when asked if Tiger Woods would be prevented from the PIP given his limited playing opportunities.
He told the media in January:
Woods, who withdrew during round three of The Masters last week, is likely going to play the majors and a couple of other designated events should he be able to this season.
It must also be said that when the PGA Tour outlined its designated events for 2024, officials dropped the requirement for players to compete in all of them in order to remain eligible for the PIP.
Take a look at the full payout info for the 2022 PIP:
- 1. Tiger Woods $15,000,000
- 2. Rory McIlroy $12,000,000
- 3. Jordan Spieth $9,000,000
- 4. Justin Thomas $7,500,000
- 5. Jon Rahm $6,000,000
- 6. Scottie Scheffler $5,500,000
- 7. Xander Schauffele $5,000,000
- 8. Matt Fitzpatrick $5,000,000
- 9. Will Zalatoris $5,000,000
- 10. Tony Finau $5,000,000
- 11. Collin Morikawa $3,000,000
- 12. Shane Lowry $3,000,000
- 13. Kevin Kisner $3,000,000
- 14. Max Homa $3,000,000
- 15. Billy Horschel $3,000,000
- 16. Rickie Fowler $2,000,000
- 17. Adam Scott $2,000,000
- 18. Jason Day $2,000,000
- 19. Patrick Cantlay $2,000,000
- 20. Viktor Hovland $2,000,000
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