Rory McIlroy’s decision to skip the FedEx St. Jude Championship has ignited fierce debate across the golf world! 🏌️♂️ Is the Masters champ justified in prioritizing his schedule, or is this a problem the PGA Tour needs to fix? Lucas Glover weighs in, defending Rory’s choice amid backlash from fellow players and fans. From the threat of a “Rory McIlroy Rule” to past stars skipping playoff events, we break down everything you need to know about this controversial move and what it means for the future of professional golf.
Will player freedom clash with tour regulations? Join the conversation and share your thoughts below! ⛳🔥
0:00 Introduction
1:15 Rory McIlroy’s decision and FedEx Cup context
2:45 Player reactions: criticism vs support
4:10 Lucas Glover’s defense of Rory
5:30 The “Rory McIlroy Rule” debate
7:00 Historical context: other stars who skipped
8:20 What this means for the PGA Tour’s future
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Rory Mroyy’s choice to skip this week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, the opening event of the FedEx Cup playoffs, has become one of golf’s biggest talking points. But while some see it as a problem for the PGA Tour, Lucas Glover insists the Masters champion is making the right call for himself. Mroy made his intentions clear months ago. Speaking to the Telegraph in November 2024, the five-time major winner revealed that if his FedEx Cup position was secure, he would likely bypass Memphis. His reasoning was simple. He finished near the bottom of the leaderboard at TPC Southwind last year, yet barely dropped in the standings. Sitting comfortably in second place with nearly a 1,000 point lead, his playoff position remains unaffected. From next week’s BMW Championship, Mroy plans to play four events in six weeks leading into the RDER Cup at Beth Paige Black. After that, he set for four more DP World Tour starts across India, Australia, and the UAE before years end. The decision sparked criticism from some peers. Player director Peter Malnati called it very concerning and hinted at possible new rules to prevent top players from skipping marquee events. Others like Tommy Fleekwood were more understanding. Everyone has a choice. They can choose their schedules, especially somebody like Rory. Glover speaking on SiriusXMPGA Tour Radio took that support further, acknowledging the potential impact on the tour sponsors and TV viewership, but defending Mroyy’s right to put himself first. Rory’s going to do what’s best for Rory. He’s played a lot of golf and will play a lot more. I understand all that, Glover said. I don’t blame him. There’s nothing anybody can do. He’s doing what’s best for him this year, and that’s fine. Mroyy’s absence has reignited discussions about mandatory participation in top PGA Tour events. Some insiders have even floated the idea of a Rory Mroy rule to keep stars from skipping. But Golf Channel analysts Ryan Lavner and Aean Lynch warned that such a move could backfire. Lavender pointed out that the PGA Tour tried something similar in 2023 by mandating signature event participation and finding players for absences. Mroy himself paid $3 million in penalties for missing two events. The rule failed to gain support and was scrapped the following season. Mroy isn’t the only top golfer to bypass an early playoff event. Tiger Woods, Ricky Fowler, and Shane Lowry all did the same in 2019. Given Mroyy’s commanding position in the standings, skipping Memphis will likely have little competitive consequence, even if it has become a bigger story than the tournament itself. Now, the question remains, should the PGA tour respect player freedom or enforce participation for the good of the game?
