The signature events were envisioned as the PGA Tour’s answer to the LIV’s free-spending concept. A bigger prize pool of $20 million, with the winner cashing in $4 million. No cut lines and limited field sizes. The idea behind the signature events was to have the best players compete against each other occasionally on the PGA Tour, rather than waiting for the Majors. But now the concept seems to be in limbo. A host of big-name players had opted out of signature events in a bid to rest and prepare for majors. Scottie Scheffler did the same for the Truist Championship. Now, the latest – Rory McIlroy and the Memorial Tournament.

Rory McIlroy made the decision to skip the Memorial Tournament hosted by Jack Nicklaus. This will be the third signature event the Northern Irish golfer misses this season, after skipping the season-opening Sentry and the RBC Heritage, which was right after his iconic Masters victory. McIlroy has played in all but two editions of the Memorial Tournament since making his debut in the competition in 2010, and he has finished in the top 10 5 times. He has not missed a single edition since skipping the 2017 event.

McIlroy’s decision is understandable. With the US Open taking place in two weeks, the 5-time Major winner wants to be in the best form possible. He will be participating in the Canadian Open the week before the major as preparation. McIlroy has had four top 10 finishes at the Canadian event in the last four editions, including two victories. It could provide the ideal boost and motivation ahead of the major at Oakmont.

But what was surprising about the whole thing is the way it went down. Firstly, there was no message on social media or any public statement regarding his decision on the Memorial Tournament. Secondly, he did not notify Jack Nicklaus before making the decision. That is important on two fronts. One, Jack Nicklaus, one of the most celebrated golfers on the planet, who is the host of the tournament, would have been looking forward to Rory McIlroy‘s participation. Two, he personally took time before and after the Masters to guide and congratulate, respectively, the Northern Irish golfer.

“After the Masters, I dropped him a note, and I told him, I don’t think anybody’s won by having four double bogeys… But that just showed me how much talent you have to overcome that to win, and how you played some unbelievably spectacular shots, such as the iron at 7 that he hit over the tree that actually hit the tree. The phenomenal iron he hit at 15, the shot he hit at 17. Then, of course, to miss that little short putt at 18 on a pitch-out on his second shot with a wedge, which was not very good,” Jack Nicklaus recalled ahead of the Memorial Tournament.

With this level of understanding and concern shown by the former PGA Tour pro, it is no wonder that the golfing world is criticizing Rory McIlroy for not caring enough about the ramifications of his decision.

Golf fans criticize Rory McIlroy for a lack of empathy

Fans are not against Rory McIlroy skipping the Memorial Tournament. They are criticizing how it came about. With a celebrated figure like Jack Nicklaus hosting it, the least you could do would be to notify him prior to the decision being made public, especially considering the care and guidance he has shown you during your career. “Skipping the event for Canada is fine but you give Mr. Jack a phone call,” one fan explained.

Jack Nicklaus was indeed a bit stunned to hear the news, but he did not feel like it was out of place: “Yeah, it surprised me. But, you know, guys have got schedules and got things they do. And, you know, I haven’t talked to him for him to tell me why or why not. It’s just his call. I made a lot of calls that I had to make when I played to play or not play, and sometimes it wasn’t as popular as people thought it was. But, you know, sometimes you have to make those calls.” 

The Northern Irish golfer has played in nine events on the PGA Tour so far, and he has confirmed his participation for the upcoming Canadian Open as well. For McIlroy, it is all about the preparation for the upcoming major, the US Open. This is why Nicklaus can understand McIlroy’s decision.

The 18-time Major winner’s response was well-received by fans, with one fan commenting, “Rory should be ashamed!” Most fans are miffed at the fact that the 5-time Major champion did not notify Nicklaus beforehand, explaining that it does not look good from the outside to have that level of miscommunication with one of the greats of the game. “Looks Like I picked the right golfer to despise,” another fan commented.

One fan quipped that this is how Irish people bade their farewell, commenting, “Irish Good Bye.” McIlroy has not talked to the media since before the PGA Championship, where he had a rough outing on multiple fronts. He finished T47 with a score of 3 over par, barely making the cutline after coming into the tournament as one of the favorites. On top of that, his driver was found to be non-conforming during testing before the Quail Hollow Tournament, causing him to switch to a backup. Amidst all this, there were significant shouts in the online community that he won the 2025 Masters because of his illegal driver.

All these factors could have contributed to the decisions the 2025 Masters Champion has made during this stretch. One fan perfectly encapsulated the mentality of the Northern Irish golfer, stating that it is “Villain mode Rory.”

What do you think of Rory McIlroy’s decision to skip the Memorial Tournament? Should he have notified Jack Nicklaus in advance, considering their relationship with each other? Can he channel his ‘villain’ to earn success at the upcoming US Open?