Rory McIlroy skips FedEx Cup playoffs: A painful blow to the PGA Tour.

World number 2 golfer Rory McIlroy's withdrawal from the St. Jude Championship – the first playoff round of the 2025 FedEx Cup – has caused a stir on the PGA Tour.

McIlroy, the "bomb,"

Rory McIlroy was absent from Memphis, Tennessee, where the PGA Tour kicked off the 2025 FedEx Cup playoffs with the St. Jude Championship (Par70; starting at 7:20 PM on August 7th, Hanoi time).

The absence had been planned long in advance, but it became a shocking explosion. Not because the action was so unexpected, but because the decision shattered a system that had spent years trying to mend its fragile shell.

McIlroy decided to take a break due to his hectic schedule. Photo: EFE

People want to believe that the FedEx Cup is the pinnacle of the PGA Tour , where stars are obligated to be present and fight for glory.

However, McIlroy – who holds the record for three wins (2016, 2019, and 2022) – has led many to question its true value by… staying home.

The Northern Irish golfer's withdrawal is nothing new. He previously skipped the play-offs in 2015 and 2018.

Tiger Woods did the same thing in 2007 and still lifted the trophy (the FedEx Cup consists of 3 stages). Phil Mickelson skipped an event even though he was leading in the standings.

No one objected, no one called it a crisis. But this year, when McIlroy did the same thing, the reaction was as if the world golf order had collapsed.

Peter Malnati – representing the Council of Golfers – voiced his “great concern” and hinted at the possibility of introducing new rules to force star players to participate fully in the playoffs.

On social media, people call it "Rory's Law." This nickname doesn't hide the system's confusion, as one individual's failure to follow the script is enough to send the stage reeling.

August is a quiet month on the global sporting calendar. No World Cup, no Olympics, no Super Bowl. Just the heat of Memphis (33-34 degrees Celsius) and a story big enough to shake up golf.

McIlroy suddenly became the center of attention – not because he was playing golf, but because he chose not to.

The truth is, the PGA Tour has spent two decades trying to convince the public that the FedEx Cup matters.

McIlroy with his Players title in March, a PGA Tour event with a $25 million prize fund. Photo: EFE

Now that the team has to rely on the presence of a few stars to maintain its appeal, the question to ask isn't "Why did Rory retire?" , but rather "Why does nobody care when others are playing?" .

FedEx Cup Question

Comparing it to other sports is a mistake. No one can imagine an NFL quarterback skipping the playoffs.

Golf is quite different, where the sacredness lies in the four majors (The Masters, PGA Championship, US Open, and The Open Championship), the Ryder Cup, or sometimes The Players Championship.

The FedEx Cup, despite its $25 million prize money for the winner, is merely a product built with money. The tournament lacks tradition and emotion.

McIlroy wasn't the only one tired. But he was the only one who dared to take a break. Of the 70 golfers eligible to go to Memphis (with a $20 million prize pool; $3.6 million for the winner), he was the only one absent.

The world number 2 golfer chose to rest ahead of his schedule, which includes the remaining two playoff events (BMW Championship and Tour Championship; taking place consecutively over the next two weeks), the Ryder Cup (late next month), and the European Tour.

He didn't resist, he just wanted to conserve his energy properly during a grueling competition year.

The PGA Tour has reason to be concerned. With television partners spending hundreds of millions of dollars to see McIlroy compete, and FedEx pouring money into the tournament right in their "headquarters" (Memphis), Rors' absence is a gap that could become a scratch on the sponsorship relationship.

But if a league only exists because of one individual, then perhaps it will never be strong enough.

Rory shook the PGA Tour and golf. Photo: EFE

McIlroy isn't entirely innocent. He was a pioneer in advocating for star players to stick with the elite event system, especially as many switched to LIV Golf, only to then skip a few tournaments himself. But life isn't always monotonous.

The setbacks following The Masters, physical and mental fatigue, and numerous off-course changes mean this decision cannot be considered irresponsible.

Ultimately, the question remains: after nearly 20 years of refining the format, scoring, and venues, why hasn't the FedEx Cup become a must-see destination?

Perhaps it's because it was never built on faith, but only on money and calculations. On that foundation, when one person withdraws, the whole building trembles.

McIlroy didn't ruin the PGA Tour. He just helped us see the truth.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/rory-mcilroy-bo-play-off-fedex-cup-cai-tat-cho-pga-tour-2429654.html