Why did Rory McIlroy skip the RBC Heritage tournament?

Following the disappointment at the Masters, Rory McIlroy decided to optioned out of the RBC Heritage to look after his well being

Why did Rory McIlroy skip the RBC Heritage tournament?

[Rory McIlroy. Pic Credit: PGA Tour]

Sometimes all a person needs is a break. A little time away from particular things can help the person calm down. Rory Mcllroy is one of those who desperately needed a break from golf. After a failure at the Augusta Masters, he decided to skip the next tournament. He would go on to state mental health reasons.

The RBC Heritage was next in the PGA Tour this year. Many were anticipating for his involvement. He was considered one of the favorites in the Masters but fell short to eventual winner Jon Rahm. Golf fans were left disappointed when the world number 3 decided to skip the whole tournament.

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Speaking ahead of the Wells Fargo Championship, which will commence this week, McIlroy said he needed a break for his emotional well-being. “I needed a break. Obviously, after the disappointment of Augusta, and its been a pretty taxing 12 months, so it was nice just to disconnect and get away from it,” he informed about his decision.

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Rory McIlroy had to pay the prize for missing the RBC Heritage

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[Rory McIlroy. Pic Credit: The Guardian]

They say every action has an equal and opposite reaction. It was observed in Rory McIlroy case as well. His absence from the RBC Heritage came with a price to pay. This was second option out of the year. Per the Players Impact Program bonus, a player can skip one event in the year. A twenty-five percent deduction will occur if a player misses a second one.

Him missing the RBC Heritage saw him lose $3 million from his $12 million PIP bonus. PGA commissioner Jay Manohan also explained this to the media and informed that McIlroy knew the consequences if he fails to show up at the RBC Heritage. The tournament was eventually won by Matt Fitzpatrick, who win it via dramatic play-off round.

PIP identifies top players in golf rankings. McIlroy is currently ranked third in the official rankings. These players must participate in at least three non-designated events and participate in all but one PGA Tour event. As per reports, the minimum requirement for next year will be reduced by a large margin. The PIP will also be reduced to $50 million and will no longer identify top players for designated PGA events.

Speaking of McIlroy, he is confirmed to participate in the RBC Canadian Open this year and will be eyeing history. He will go into the tournament as a two-time defending champion, winning in 2019 and 2022.

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