World No. 2 Rory McIlroy has opted out of multiple PGA Tour events this season and has announced that he will continue to skip competitions next term, while also taking a subtle jab at LIV Golf
Rory McIlroy has revealed that he will continue to skip PGA Tour events next year(Image: Getty)
Rory McIlroy has made it clear that he will continue to bypass PGA Tour events that don’t align with his preferences. The Northern Irishman also took a subtle dig at LIV Golf for their extensive travel demands.
The current Masters champion opted out of several Tour events this season, including high-profile tournaments like the Memorial Tournament, The Sentry and the RBC Heritage. He even missed the FedEx St. Jude Championship, which was the first of three FedEx Cup Play-Off events.
Speaking recently, McIlroy acknowledged that his approach to scheduling will remain unchanged next year. He intends to participate only in Tour events that ‘best fit’ his personal life, despite any criticism he might face. At the same time, he seemed to criticise LIV’s worldwide event locations while lauding the flexibility offered by the PGA Tour.
“I’ll always look at the schedule at the start of the year and see what best fits me and my life, and everything else that I do with family or other opportunities that I’m pursuing outside of golf,” said McIlroy before the Tour Championship.
“This year, that meant skipping a few signature events. [Next year] I might skip less, I might skip the same amount.
“The luxury of being a PGA Tour player is we’re free to pick and choose our own schedule for the most part. I took advantage of that this year and I’ll continue to take advantage of that for as long as I can.”
McIlroy came under fire for skipping signature events this year. Jack Nicklaus admitted he was “surprised” the 36-year-old bypassed the Memorial. Player director of the PGA Tour Policy Board, Peter Malnati, was asked whether the likes of McIlroy will be punished in the future for opting out of events. He said: “I think there is stuff in the works and I’ll leave it at that.”
With the 2026 PGA Tour season on the horizon, officials have unveiled a revamped schedule that includes the addition of a ninth signature event. The Miami Championship is set to tee off in late April to early May, fitting neatly between the Masters and the US PGA Championship.
McIlroy appears to have fired a shot at LIV(Image: Getty)
McIlroy welcomed the changes despite potential concerns about a more packed Tour calendar. He commended the proximity of events, contrasting with the global itinerary of another professional tour.
“I think it’s all positive,” said the Holywood-born star of the new schedule. “Golf builds through the January, February, March months, gets a huge popularity spike through [the Masters at] Augusta.
“To try and keep that momentum going through the next few weeks, through the [US] PGA, through the US Open, I think is a good thing.
“It’s quite a workload for the players to play that much golf in that stretch, but it’s not as if we’re having to travel halfway around the world to do it.”
In contrast, LIV Golf has adopted an extensively international calendar since its launch in 2021. Their website boasts that the 2026 season will be their “most global schedule yet!”
Kicking off in February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the PIF-backed circuit will journey through Australia, Singapore, South Africa and Mexico. LIV will then stop in Virginia before moving on to Spain and the UK, culminating with their Individual Championship finale in Indianapolis in late August 2026.
