Rory McIlroy, the world No. 2 and reigning Masters champion, has withdrawn from the 2025 FedEx St. Jude Championship, the PGA Tour’s playoff opener set for August 6-10 at TPC Southwind, igniting a firestorm of criticism from fans and analysts who argue his absence not only disrespects title sponsor FedEx but also undermines the legitimacy of the PGA Tour’s FedExCup Playoffs.
The decision reduces the field to 69 players, as no alternates are added for the top-70 playoff event, and has fueled debate over a playoff format that allows a top star to skip one of only three events.
McIlroy, ranked second in the FedExCup standings with 3,444 points behind Scottie Scheffler, is mathematically assured a spot in the BMW Championship and Tour Championship, thanks to the PGA Tour’s revamped 2025 playoff structure, which eliminated starting strokes at East Lake. His absence follows a pattern, having skipped The Northern Trust in 2018 and The Barclays in 2015, and comes after a T68 finish at last year’s St. Jude, where he noted, “I finished basically dead last… and only moved down one spot in the playoff standings.”
The Northern Irishman’s decision is seen by some as a strategic move to rest before the BMW Championship (August 14-17) and Tour Championship (August 21-24), where he’s a three-time FedExCup winner (2016, 2019, 2022).
The withdrawal has drawn sharp rebukes, with fans labeling it a “slap in the face” to FedEx, which has sponsored the FedExCup since 2007, funding a $100 million bonus pool, including $10 million for the champion, and a $20 million purse for the St. Jude event.
Social media erupted, with one X user fuming, “You skip playoffs, you should be out!”
Another called it a “loser move,” arguing, “What kinds of farce playoffs allows them to skip,” while another called the circuit an “unserious tour.”
Critics contend that allowing a player of McIlroy’s stature to bypass one of just three playoff events delegitimizes the postseason, likening it to an NFL team sitting out a playoff game.
“The Tour probably should’ve thought of this when they made no difference between finishing 1st and 30th,” one fan remarked, pointing to the new format’s reduced incentive for top players to compete.
Defenders, however, argue McIlroy’s decision is pragmatic. One fan said, “He’s already locked in to be at East Lake… He’s not breaking any rules.”
McIlroy’s lighter 2025 schedule, with 14 starts and wins at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, THE PLAYERS Championship, and the Masters to complete his career Grand Slam, supports his choice to prioritize rest over a course where his best result is a T3 in 2023, offset by a missed cut in 2022 and last year’s near-last finish.
The controversy highlights flaws in the PGA Tour’s playoff system, where the lack of mandatory participation and diminished importance of early events, due to the removal of the strokes-based advantage, allows top players to skip without significant consequence. This raises questions about the playoffs’ competitive integrity, as a cornerstone event like the St. Jude, backed by a major sponsor, loses star power.
“McIlroy’s decision to miss out… will also be something of a blow to the lead tournament sponsor,” Golfmagic reported, noting FedEx’s substantial investment.
With Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and defending champion Viktor Hovland still headlining, the field remains strong, but McIlroy’s absence has cast a shadow, prompting calls for the Tour to rethink a format that risks making its postseason feel optional.[]()
