In April, former number 1 golfer, Rory McIlory, surprised everyone with his unexpected withdrawal from RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

There was no explanation for McIlroy’s absence. There were only speculations. Many attributed it to his disappointing performance at the Masters, where he missed the cut and now will have to wait another year for a Grand Slam, while other fans speculated that his absence was because of personal matters.

Now, finally, the world No. 3 is back. He broke his silence as he returned to the PGA Tour at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Rory McIlroy speaks about his controversial withdrawal

On Sky Sports News’ official Twitter account, McIlory was seen speaking with Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis and finally answering the question that has been bugging fans for weeks. He explained why he missed the Harbour Town Tournament. The tweet was captioned with: “A needed break.” McIlroy said he skipped the RBC Heritage for mental health related reasons following his missed cut at the Masters.

Consequences of missing the RBC Heritage

All players have one free absence, and McIlroy already used his in the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January. Due to his unexpected exit from RBC Heritage, 25% of the designated share of the PIP bonus, or $3 million, was automatically lost. Many believed that McIlroy was already familiar with the repercussions of his decision.

According to Sports Illustrated, Joel Dahmen said: “I feel like Rory was leading the charge on the changes that have been made and he helped make the rules. He knew what the rules were. So, he knew what was coming. He also has so much money, he doesn’t care about $3 million.”

the PGA loyalist’s dramatic exit. He

McIlroy has been perhaps the most vocal advocate for PGA TOUR golfers since LIV golf entered golf last year. His absence gave many of his fans an opportunity to criticize him. Do you think McIlroy’s reason to miss the tournament was justified? Let us know in the comments below.

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