Jack Nicklaus and Rory McIlroy at the 2023 Memorial Tournament. (Photo: Getty)
Almost the entire elite of the PGA Tour will be competing in this week’s Memorial Tournament presented by Workday in Muirfield Village. However, one particularly prominent name is missing from the list of participants: Rory McIlroy has opted out of the signature event organized by Jack Nicklaus. The tournament host is surprised that McIlroy did not inform him in advance, but does not hold it against the Northern Irishman.
Jack Nicklaus: “It’s just his call”
Rory McIlroy recently realigned his tournament calendar: Less focus on the USA, but more starts at national Open tournaments around the globe. As he has committed to the Canadian Open next week, followed by the US Open, McIlroy is taking a break from the Memorial Tournament. It is already the third signature event of the season that he has skipped. Instead, he has played a number of tournaments with a rather weaker field of participants, giving them additional attention and is now making more international appearances.
Jack Nicklaus, host of the Memorial Tournament, self-confessed Rory fan and long-time supporter of the Northern Irishman, only found out about his withdrawal in the middle of last week. As he admitted at the pre-tournament press conference, he was a little caught off guard by the news: ““Yeah, it surprised me,” Nicklaus said. “But guys have got schedules and got things they do. And I haven’t talked to him for him to tell me why or why not. It’s just his call.”
Even though Nicklaus would have been delighted to welcome McIlroy to Muirfield Village, he was understanding: “I don’t hold anything against Rory for that. He did what he likes to play. I know he likes to play so many in a row. He likes to play the week before a U.S. Open. And so he, that’s what he’s doing. So, you know, I really don’t have a comment on it. It’s very difficult, very difficult. I mean, I’m a big Rory fan, I always have been. I’m sure that I will remain that way. I just, I was a little surprised, yes.”
New family home for the McIlroy Family. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy’s life, both on and off the course, has long been a source of fascination for the sporting world. His victories, setbacks, outspoken nature, and commitment to the game consistently draw the spotlight. Recent weeks have been no different, as media attention intensified following McIlroy’s appearance at the Masters — not just for his performance, but for his movements beyond Augusta’s fairways.
One stop on McIlroy’s post-Masters itinerary brought him home to Northern Ireland, where he reunited with his parents, Rosie and Gerry, in Holywood. The visit served as a celebration, compensating for their absence at Augusta as they prepared for a relocation of their own.
McIlroy Lays New Foundations at Wentworth Estate
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, construction is well underway on a significant new project for the McIlroy family: a home in England’s prestigious Wentworth Estate, just outside London. The development, situated near the storied Wentworth Club — host venue for the BMW PGA Championship — signals a new chapter for McIlroy, his wife Erica Stoll, and their young daughter, Poppy. Reports suggest the move was motivated in part by a desire for a fresh start for the couple.
“It’s not every day you get to fulfil one of your lifelong goals and dreams,” McIlroy reflected during the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. “We first went to London with Erica and Poppy to see our new home that we’re building and we made the trip over to Belfast to see a few other people that are important to us. Just to be with them, to be with Erica and Poppy and my mum and dad.”
Rory McIlroy in the last round of the 2023 Masters Tournament. (Image: Getty)
Rory McIlroy is one of the worlds outstanding golfers, both on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. But with appearances on all Majors, Tour finals and every other big tournament there is in golf, one special occasion is still missing in McIlroys yearly schedule, the Masters Champions Dinner.
Rory McIlroy and The Masters Champions Dinner at Augusta National
So why is Rory McIlroy not invited to the famous Masters Dinner? As the official name of the – probably most famous – dinner in golf suggests, the “Masters Champions Dinner” is just for the elite circle of past and reigning Masters Champions. The tradition was originally startet by Ben Hogan back in the 1950s and is continued as a popular tradition, not just for the attendees, but for golf fans as well. The Masters Champions Dinner Menu is a talking point for many and is chosen by the reigning Masters Champion from the previous year.
So Scottie Scheffler,Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and this years host Jon Rahm are going to be present, but Rory McIlroy didn’t get an invite. Because as simple as it is, he hasn’t won a Masters Tournament yet.
Rory McIlroy at The Masters Tournament
So for McIlroy the Masters-Odyssey doesn’t stop at a missing invite to this dinner. The Northern Irishman is negatively famous for being “cursed” at the first Major of each golf season. With wins at the PGA Championship, the US Open and the Open Championship the only Major missing for his Grand Slam is the Masters Tournament.
In 2022 the Northern Irishman came close to a victory with a second place but fumbled in his last round and Scottie Scheffler claimed his first Major title in response. In 2023 McIlroy even missed the cut.
Rory McIlroy's 2024 season in review. (Photo: Getty)
A year full of contrasts – characterised by triumphs, setbacks and the eternal dream of the next major title. Rory McIlroy looks back on an eventful season highlighted by great moments on the course and personal turmoil off the fairway.
Rory McIlroy’s majors, personal crises and a missing fifth title
The season got off to a successful start for Rory McIlroy: he made an early statement on the DP World Tour with a victory at the Dubai Desert Classic. Back on the PGA Tour, he showed a different face – not alone, but as part of a well-rehearsed duo. Together with Shane Lowry, he triumphed at the Zurich Classic, a team event that often promises more fun than strategy. But when it came to the play-off, there was no more relaxation: McIlroy’s approach on the 18th hole was accurate to the millimetre and the subsequent putt secured the first PGA title of the season.
But McIlroy’s individual brilliance on the PGA Tour was evident at the Wells Fargo Championship. At Quail Hollow, he secured his fourth title at this tournament and dominated with a flawless final round, which was characterised by two eagles and a spectacular birdie putt on the 15th hole. ‘When Rory is on form, he’s unbeatable,’ said second-placed Xander Schauffele. The victory marked McIlroy’s 26th PGA Tour title – a strong signal ahead of the upcoming majors.
A rocky road to the US Open
But golf remains a game of uncertainties – and 2024 also had some bitter moments in store for McIlroy. The US Open was another chapter in the quest for his fifth major, which has been going on for years. Two shots ahead, only a few holes left to play, the end almost in sight – and yet victory slipped away from him. Two missed putts on the final holes not only left their mark on his score, but also on McIlroy’s expression. His withdrawal without talking to the media spoke volumes.
‘It was incredibly painful,’ admitted McIlroy at a later point after he was ready for interviews again. ‘I could be sitting here with a fifth major title – but I’m not. It stings and that’s something I have to come to terms with.’ At the same time, he looked at the positive aspects of his season: ‘I was incredibly consistent again. I’m proud of that. But the thoughts of the missed opportunities remain.’
Headlines off the fairways too
In addition to his sporting achievements, Rory McIlroy also made headlines off the course in 2024. Active as ‘Player Director’ on the PGA Tour Policy Board since 2022, he became a central figure in the negotiations between the PGA Tour and the controversial LIV Golf League. But the burden grew: ‘It wasn’t what I signed up for,’ McIlroy explained after his surprise resignation in November.
Just a few months later, however, he hinted at a return to the committee after Webb Simpson vacated his seat. ‘I think I can be helpful,’ said McIlroy, who continues to see a united golf world as a goal.
This back-and-forth comes alongside another setback for the Northern Irishman: reports of an impending divorce from his wife Erica Stoll appeared to be weighing on his mind. But in a surprise twist just before the US Open, the separation was withdrawn – a personal birdie putt that put McIlroy back on his feet.
The grand finale in Dubai: a worthy end to the season
The months between the majors were a rollercoaster ride of emotions: From missing the chance to win the Irish Open at home to losing the play-off at the BMW PGA Championship to the season finale, McIlroy experienced highs and lows. This phase, characterised by frustration, culminated in a moment of redemption: the triumph in Dubai.
Like the experienced golfer that he is, McIlroy found his way back to his best form. At the DP World Tour Championship, he left no doubt as to why his name has been at the top of the world’s leaderboards for years. The duel with young Dane Rasmus Højgaard had it all: setbacks, comebacks, and finally a determined McIlroy, who sealed his third title of the tournament and sixth DP World Tour title of the season with a birdie on the 18th hole.
With tears in his eyes, he spoke about the legacy of this victory: ‘Seve was always a role model for me. To catch up with him in the number of wins this season is something I never thought possible.’ For a moment, it was clear that even a player like McIlroy, whose name has long been a legend, is still inspired by the great gestures of the game.
The comparison with Seve Ballesteros emphasises McIlroy’s position in golf. But despite this historic success, there was still one downer: McIlroy’s long search for a fifth major title, which did not lead him to his goal in 2024.
A year full of meaning
Rory McIlroy’s 2024 season was a mixture of extraordinary successes and painful moments. While he equalled Seve Ballesteros and further cemented his place in golf history, the pursuit of more majors remains the drive of a player who is never satisfied. ‘If I had to rate the season, it would probably be an eight out of ten,’ said McIlroy in Dubai. ‘Not perfect, but a solid year.’
Victory in the Race to Dubai was safe for Rory McIlroy, but the outcome of the DP World Tour Championship remained exciting right down to the last few holes. With two late birdies, McIlroy prevailed over Rasmus Hojgaard and his Callaway bag to win the DP World Tour season finale and the season ranking for the third time in his career. A look inside the Northern Irishman’s golf bag reveals that he remains loyal to his sponsor TaylorMade.
DP World Tour Championship 2024: WITB Rory McIlroy
Speculation after investment in Tiger Woods' “TMRW” about a possible return to the PGA Tour by Brooks Koepka. (Photo: Getty)
Brooks Koepka has made a remarkable investment. The five-time major winner acquired shares in an investment fund called Locker Room, which also holds shares in TMRW Sports through its portfolio. The company owned by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, for example, is the parent company of TGL, which is finally launching its indoor golf spectacle in January. ‘Locker Room offers me the opportunity to actively support companies that are really close to my heart and align with my personal interests and values,’ says Koepka about his commitment, which puts him in good company. ‘Big names’ such as Lewis Hamilton, Gareth Bale, Steph Curry, Justin Timberlake and sports magnates Arthur Blank and John Henry have been investors from the very beginning.
And of course, with this very indirect approach to LIV opponent Woods, rumours of a return to the PGA Tour by Koepka, who is nominally one of the stars of the LIV Golf League, will be competing with Bryson DeChambeau in Las Vegas in December for the ‘showdown’ between the two rival circuits against Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy and has already started teasing his designated team partner and former favourite enemy. Seen in this light, it is safe to speak of a double speculation model. Author: Michael Basche
