Rory McIlroy has opted to sit out the first of the three FedExCup Playoff events next weekend, amid a recent rule change that allows him to relax for the time being
Thomas Bristow US Sports Editor and Abbie Meehan Sports Writer U-35s
10:11, 02 Aug 2025Updated 10:11, 02 Aug 2025
Rory McIlroy has decided to withdraw from the first FedEx Cup playoff event(Image: Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy won’t participate in the first of the three FedExCup Playoff events next weekend in Tennessee, missing out on a £15million prize purse.
The current Masters champion is comfortably positioned second on the FedExCup points list, trailing Scottie Scheffler, and is set to make it to the Tour Championship at East Lake later this month. McIlroy is the first big name to withdraw from the tournament, and there could be more to follow.
This is a significant setback for the PGA Tour, as one of its key stars will be missing from what are considered the season’s climax events. However, due to a recent format change, the Northern Irish golfer stands to lose nothing but a shot at the prize pot of £15m.
In May, the PGA Tour announced that it would be doing away with starting strokes for this year’s Tour Championship. Previously, the player leading the FedExCup points list would kick off the tournament at 10-under, followed by the second at 8-under, third at 7-under, fourth at 6-under and fifth at 5-under.
The remaining 25 players would be divided into five groups based on their ranking and assigned a corresponding starting score. This year, however, all players will begin the tournament at level par.
Last year, Scottie Scheffler began the tournament at 10-under and steamrolled through the field to claim victory at 30-under. Yet Collin Morikawa (-22) and Sahith Theegala (-21) actually posted superior scores to the World No.1 across the full 72 holes.
Rory McIlroy won’t participate at the playoff event in America(Image: Alex Pantling/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Without such a scoring arrangement in place this year, it’s irrelevant whether McIlroy secures second spot or 30th – as long as he remains within the top 30 by the conclusion of the second playoff tournament.
The pair of playoff tournaments, featuring fields of 70 and 50 before trimming down to 30 for the Tour Championship, provide four times the points of any standard season event without any cuts.
For McIlroy, who sits second and comfortably within the top 30, and has little to lose even if he slips a few positions, it means he can afford to relax next weekend. But if other leading players who could mathematically reach the Tour Championship adopt the same approach, it might become an issue for the PGA Tour.
However, fans have not welcomed McIlroy’s controversial decision from the event with such understanding, as many took to social media to hit out at the Northern Irishman. One said: “I like this guy less and less every week.”
Scottie Scheffler sits above McIlroy in the rankings(Image: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for The Showdown)
Another added: “As far as I’m concerned he just stays home and never comes back.” Not everyone was as troubled by the news though, as some admitted they don’t blame McIlroy for making the decision to skip the tournament.
One understanding fan noted: “Without the staggered start in the finale, there will be many skipping an event. Can’t blame ‘em.”
Scheffler, who previously benefited from the starting stroke advantage and holds the defending champion title, has welcomed the alteration to the rules.
“At the end of the day you have to perform when it matters the most. I think now with the format we have, we have a great format of a 72-hole golf tournament,” he said. “If I want to win the FedExCup, I have to play well at the last week of the season, and it’s just simple as that.
“I didn’t love the previous format of starting strokes, and I really like the direction where we’re going.”
