Things have shifted recently for Rory McIlroy. The Irishman was the top-ranked golfer in the world just a couple of months ago but has now missed the cut in two of his last three starts. That includes the Masters last weekend, when the 33-year-old missed out on another chance at a green jacket when he finished five over par following a rain-soaked second round.
But instead of getting right back out there in an effort to right the ship, it was announced on Monday that McIlroy has withdrawn from next weekend’s RBC Heritage at Hilton Head.
While an exact reason for McIlroy’s withdrawal hasn’t readily been made available, it is very possible the 33-year-old needs a breather after the hectic weekend at Augusta National. As CBS Sports points out, former world No. 1 Jason Day also removed his name from the field on Monday.
There are still questions, however, regarding whether McIlroy will be punished for missing another elevated PGA event this season.
“With the RBC Heritage being elevated to a designated event on the PGA Tour schedule, the top 20 players [who] form the Player Impact Program from the year prior are required — or at least expected — to make the short trip from Augusta, Georgia, to the Atlantic coast,” CBS explained. “Having already skipped the Tournament of Champions event in January, McIlroy could be subject to forfeiting a percentage of his PIP bonus by missing his second designated event of the year.”
McIlroy opened up his season strong with a win at the CJ Cup in October, before finishing outside of the top 20 in his first two events in 2023. He rebounded with a T2 finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and later placed third at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. He sits third in the official world golf ranking after missing the cut at the Masters.
