Rory McIlroy is the one absence from this week’s 70-man FedEx St. Jude Championship, the PGA Tour’s playoff opener at TPC Southwind in Memphis.
McIlroy, at second in factors behind Scottie Scheffler, is already assured to qualify for each the BMW Championship and Tour Championship. And although the highest 30 gamers in factors after the BMW are paid out of the FedExCup bonus pool, McIlroy has a virtually 900,000-point cushion on No. 3 Sepp Straka whereas he’s over 1.3 million factors shy of Scheffler. In different phrases, McIlroy skipping one playoff occasion shouldn’t have an effect on his standing an excessive amount of, if in any respect. Plus, he already collected $10 million in bonuses on Sunday.
Factors are also meaningless as soon as gamers arrive at East Lake, which has been reverted to conventional, 30-man stroke play.
However is that this what the Tour desires – its stars opting to not seem in playoff occasions?
Peter Malnati, a participant director on the Tour’s coverage board, informed Golfweek that he’s “very involved” about McIlroy’s opt-out of Memphis.
Malnati additionally hinted at a possible rule change, which might require certified gamers to compete in playoff occasions. McIlroy isn’t the one participant to skip such an occasion over the 12 months; Tiger Woods did simply that for the inaugural playoff occasion in 2007.
“I feel there may be stuff within the works, and I’ll go away it at that,” Malnati informed Golfweek.
Added Jordan Spieth, a former participant director, in the identical report: “You may need 1-2 guys try this for an occasion, however I don’t suppose it should develop into a factor as a result of they’re nonetheless enormous occasions in opposition to one of the best gamers on the earth. I feel they’re attempting to determine be sure to don’t skip each of them and ideally neither of them.”
The winners of the FedEx St. Jude and BMW obtain 2,000 factors apiece, in comparison with 750 for majors, 700 for signature occasions, 500 for normal full-field occasions and 300 for extra occasions. If No. 70 Matti Schmid had been to win Sunday in Memphis, he may transfer all the best way to 3rd in factors.
