Report: Rory McIlroy docked MONSTROUS sum in PGA Tour's popularity contest!
Rory McIlroy will be docked a huge sum of money by the PGA Tour after he decided to skip his second designated event of 2023.
Rory McIlroy will reportedly be docked $3m from his PIP bonus after he skipped his second PGA Tour designated event of 2023.
McIlroy, 33, decided not to play in this week's RBC Heritage after a dismal display at The Masters ensured his wait for the career grand slam continues.
No reason was given for McIlroy's withdrawal so the assumption has been made that the Northern Irishman just wasn't feeling it.
McIlroy has spoken at length about the future of the PGA Tour over the last 12 months after the emergence of the rival LIV Golf League, which heads to Adelaide next.
He was even involved in an eyebrow-raising conversation about the designated events in the Netflix documentary.
In Full Swing, the four-time major champ suggested if he was willing to commit to these events other players should too.
Related: What are the elevated events?
The designated events were designed to essentially get the best players competing against each other in events more often. And for big money.
"We've all just gotten a little soft," McIlroy was filmed saying after the changes to the PIP were revealed.
Those changes stipulated that for players to collect their bonus cash they would be required to play in all bar one of the designated events.
McIlroy decided not to play the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, but typically that is not a stop he usually puts into his schedule.
A report from SI's Bob Harig claims, per a source, that McIlroy will be docked $3m from his $12m 2022 PIP payout.
That equates to one-fourth of his bonus.
Players were reportedly paid 25 per cent of their bonuses in January with the rest being paid out after players meet criteria this year.
One of those players who got that payout in January was Tiger Woods, who scooped the top prize of $15m.
Woods, 47, who won The Masters 26 years ago on this day, also won the inaugural PIP for $8m.
The 15-time major champion now has a severely restricted schedule given the state of his right leg which is held together by metal.
Such is his standing with the tour, commissioner Jay Monahan stated he had discrection over Woods' bonus cash.
Spoiler: Woods isn't getting docked as the game's needle mover.
Jordan Spieth after his 2023 Masters: "I think I played way too much golf [coming] into this. I came in mentally fatigued, and you overwork this week every year." #themasters pic.twitter.com/VlNdUxPTd2
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) April 9, 2023
Some high-profile players have spoken of exhaustion over the schedule.
Jordan Spieth said he came into The Masters mentally fatigued. Scottie Scheffler also explained he was feeling lethargic.
Before taking to Harbour Town Golf Links, Jon Rahm said he wasn't going to withdraw.
Rahm said:
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Ben joined GolfMagic as Content Executive in September 2021 just before the Ryder Cup and has contributed significantly to the growth of the site. Ben now assumes our Content Manager role, specialising in PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf content.
