Jack Nicklaus remains ‘big fan' of Rory McIlroy despite Memorial Tournament miss
McIlroy is skipping Nicklaus' annual event at Muirfield Village for the first time since 2017, meaning he will not have contested three of the PGA Tour's Signature Events so far this season.
The world number two did not enter the season-opening Sentry tournament in Hawaii and also passed on the RBC Heritage, although that was the week after winning the Masters to join Nicklaus as one of just six players to have completed a career grand slam.
Welcome to #theMemorial @PGATOUR pic.twitter.com/SZnjxcCoHD
— the Memorial (@MemorialGolf) May 26, 2025
Asked at his traditional pre-tournament press conference for his reaction to McIlroy's absence, Nicklaus said: 'Yeah, it surprised me.
'But, you know, guys have got schedules and got things they do. And, you know, I haven't talked to him for him to tell me why or why not. It's just his call.
'I made a lot of calls that I had to make when I played to play or not play and sometimes it wasn't as popular as people thought it was. But, you know, sometimes you have to make those calls.
'I don't hold anything against Rory for that. He did what he likes to play. I know he likes to play so many in a row.
'He likes to play the week before a US Open. And so he…that's what he's doing. So, you know, I really don't have a comment on it.
'It's very difficult, very difficult. I mean, I'm a big Rory fan, I always have been. I'm sure that I will remain that way. I just, I was a little surprised, yes.'
Nicklaus had lunch with McIlroy ahead of the Masters and gave his seal of approval to the Northern Irishman's shot-by-shot plan to tackle Augusta National, a plan which ultimately paid off with a play-off victory over Justin Rose following a rollercoaster final round.
'After the Masters I dropped him a note and I told him, 'I don't think anybody's won by having four double bogeys',' Nicklaus added.
'And I said, 'but that just showed me how much talent you have to overcome that to win and how you played some unbelievably spectacular shots, such as the iron at seven that he hit over the tree that actually hit the tree'.
'The phenomenal iron he hit at 15, the shot he hit at 17. Then, of course, to miss that little short putt at 18…which was not very good. But he played some bad shots. The shot he hit at 13 (into Rae's Creek), I can't believe.
'But anyway, you know, I was very happy for him. It was a great win and it got the monkey off his back. And to me, the monkey was not the grand slam. The monkey was the Masters.
'Now, the Grand Slam was a product of winning the Masters. If you ask him which was more important, I think he would have to say the Masters. That's because it was.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
36 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Rory McIlroy's new celebrity-filled UK neighbourhood has football legends and oligarchs aplenty
Rory McIlroy's new celebrity-filled UK neighbourhood has football legends and oligarchs aplenty Rory McIlroy, who recently won the Masters to complete the career grand slam, is set to move his family to the UK after years of living in sunny Florida Rory McIlroy and his family have lived in sunny Florida for the last few years (Image: Getty Images ) Following his triumphant Masters victory and the completion of his career grand slam, golfing star Rory McIlroy is set to move his family to London. The 36-year-old ended a significant major drought last month by clinching the only major championship missing from his impressive record, thus joining an exclusive group of golfers who have achieved the career grand slam. This marked a momentous occasion for McIlroy, who celebrated by returning to his hometown of Holywood in Northern Ireland to visit his parents. Before landing in Belfast, however, he, his wife Erica Stoll, and their daughter Poppy made a brief detour to London in their private jet to inspect the Surrey mansion they plan to call home. For several years, the McIlroys have lived in a luxurious residence in Jupiter, Florida, an area known for its affluent residents including top-tier golfers, actors, and business moguls, according to the Irish Mirror. Florida's sunny climate undoubtedly suits McIlroy's golfing ambitions, providing year-round opportunities for practice. Yet, the five-time major champion has never hidden his and his wife's desire to relocate to the UK. The couple purchased a property on the Wentworth Golf Club estate a few years ago. Chelsea legend John Terry is a keen golfer (Image: (Photo by) ) Having reportedly spent over £8.4million (€10m) on refurbishments to their Surrey home, the McIlroys are now expected to make the move next month. In doing so, they will join a host of famous faces who have chosen to live in this exclusive enclave, reports Belfast Live. In the elite circles of golf, McIlroy is set to rub shoulders with neighbours such as South African great Ernie Els and ex-Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn. Fellow Irishman Paul McGinley has a residence in nearby Sunningdale, joined by another Ryder Cup leader, Sam Torrance. Justin Rose, whom McIlroy triumphed over in a playoff to clinch the Masters title, also calls this prestigious area home. Former Chelsea skipper John Terry, known for his passion for golf, resides near Wentworth, along with ex-England cricketer and fellow golf enthusiast Kevin Pietersen. Previously, former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan - who passed away in March - and Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko were among the high-profile homeowners here. Other illustrious figures in McIlroy's neighbourhood will include the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and Russian businessman Petr Aven. Aidan Heavey, who established Tullow Oil, is another notable resident on the estate. The allure of Wentworth, with its proximity to London and major airports, has drawn a diverse crowd. The Sultan of Brunei reportedly has a net worth of £37billion ($50bn) (Image: AFP via Getty Images ) Music legends like Elton John and Cliff Richard have at times owned properties in the vicinity. The estate has also been a dwelling place for former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, and television host Michael Parkinson. However, living in such exclusive locales isn't to everyone's taste, as Gary Numan shared with Uncut music magazine in 2019: "I had a big neo-Georgian house on Wentworth golf course, but I was convinced it was haunted. Article continues below "Some weird s*** had been going on – I'd come home and the house was in darkness when I was convinced I'd left the lights on. So one day, I made a point of turning on every single light in the house. I got back from the studio and – f*** me – the house was in total darkness."
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
McIlroy's new UK neighbours include footballers, oligarchs and Sultan of Brunei
Rory McIlroy is set to move his family from Florida to the UK next month, with the five-time major champion and his wife Erica Stoll having spent millions on renovations to their Surrey mansion Following his Masters victory and the completion of his career grand slam, Rory McIlroy is set to move his family to London. The 36-year-old ended his 11-year major drought last month by securing the only major championship missing from his impressive CV, joining a select group of golfers who have won the career grand slam. This was a significant accomplishment for McIlroy, who celebrated the win by returning to his hometown of Holywood in Northern Ireland to visit his parents. However, before landing in Belfast, he, his wife Erica Stoll, and their daughter Poppy made a brief stop in London in their private jet to view the Surrey mansion they plan to live in. For several years, McIlroy and his family have lived in a grand home in Jupiter, Florida, a neighbourhood chock-full of wealthy golfers, actors, and business people, according to the Irish Mirror. The sunny Florida weather undoubtedly suits McIlroy's golfing ambitions, as its climate and resources allow him to practice year-round. However, the five-time major champion has not hidden his and his wife's desire to move to the UK, with the couple buying a property on the Wentworth Golf Club estate a few years ago. After reportedly spending over £8.4million (€10m) on renovations to the Surrey home, the McIlroys are now expected to move in next month. In doing so, they will join a long list of famous names who have chosen to live in an area known for its exclusivity, reports Belfast Live. In the elite circles of golf, McIlroy's neighbours are to include South African icon Ernie Els and ex-Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn. His fellow Irishman Paul McGinley resides nearby in Sunningdale, joined by another Ryder Cup skipper, Sam Torrance. Masters playoff victor over Justin Rose, McIlroy will also share the locale with the accomplished golfer. Chelsea icon and keen golfer John Terry is a resident within proximity to Wentworth, where ex-England cricketer Kevin Pietersen, also an enthusiast of the green, has made his home. Ex-Formula One boss Eddie Jordan - who passed away in March - and Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko once graced the area with their presence. McIlroy's notable neighbours extend to royalty with Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, on the Wentworth Estate and Russian oligarch Petr Aven. Wentworth has further allure for tycoons like Tullow Oil's Aidan Heavey who owns a slice of this real estate heaven. The opulence of Wentworth Estate, as well as its strategic location offering quick routes to London and key airports, lures a diverse profile of residents. Music royalty such as Elton John and Cliff Richard have savoured the Wentworth life at some point. Even controversial figures like Chile's one-time dictator Augusto Pinochet, alongside Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and television's Michael Parkinson have enjoyed the grandeur here. While many revel in the lap of luxury, for synth-pop pioneer Gary Numan, as he related to Uncut magazine back in 2019, it wasn't quite the dream: "I had a big neo-Georgian house on Wentworth golf course, but I was convinced it was haunted," he said. "Some weird s*** had been going on – I'd come home and the house was in darkness when I was convinced I'd left the lights on. So one day, I made a point of turning on every single light in the house. I got back from the studio and – f*** me – the house was in total darkness."
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Rory McIlroy now has some very famous neighbours after making London move
Rory McIlroy now has some very famous neighbours after making London move Rory McIlroy is set to move his family from Florida to Surrey next month, with the five-time major winner and his family set to have some famous faces as neighbours Rory McIlroy, Erica Stoll and their daughter Poppy will soon move to Surrey (Image: AP ) Following his recent Masters victory and the completion of his career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy is preparing to relocate his family to London. The 36-year-old golfer ended his major championship drought last month by securing the only title missing from his impressive collection. This achievement places him in the prestigious club of golfers who have won the career Grand Slam. This victory was a significant relief for McIlroy, who celebrated by returning to his hometown of Holywood in Northern Ireland to visit his parents. However, before touching down in Belfast, he, his wife Erica Stoll and their daughter Poppy made a brief stop in London in their private jet to view the Surrey mansion they plan to call home. For several years, the McIlroy family has resided in a luxurious home in Jupiter, Florida, a neighbourhood populated by affluent golfers, actors and business people, reports the Irish Mirror. Florida's sunny weather undoubtedly complements McIlroy's golfing aspirations, as its climate and facilities allow him to train throughout the year. However, the five-time major champion has not hidden his and his wife's wish to move to the UK, having purchased a property on the Wentworth Golf Club estate a few years ago. After reportedly spending over €10million on renovations to their Surrey home, the McIlroys are expected to move in next month. In doing so, they will join a long list of famous names who have chosen to reside in this exclusive area. In the golfing world, McIlroy's neighbours are set to include South African legend Ernie Els and former Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn. Irish compatriot Paul McGinley resides in nearby Sunningdale, as does another ex-Ryder Cup captain, Sam Torrance. Justin Rose, whom McIlroy defeated in a play-off to clinch the Masters, also calls the area home. Former Chelsea skipper John Terry, an avid golfer, lives near Wentworth, as does ex-England cricketer and fellow golf enthusiast Kevin Pietersen. In years gone by, Formula One icon Eddie Jordan and Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko both owned properties in the vicinity. Other notable neighbours for McIlroy will include the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, a resident of Wentworth Estate, and Russian oligarch Petr Aven. Aidan Heavey, the founder of Tullow Oil, also has a property on the estate. The luxurious environs of Wentworth and its convenient access to London and international airports have drawn individuals from all walks of life. Music legends Elton John and Cliff Richard have both owned properties in the area over the years. Wentworth Estate has also been home to former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, and chat show supremo Michael Parkinson. Article continues below However, not all found comfort in residing within the upscale neighbourhood. Speaking to Uncut music magazine back in 2019, New Wave artist Gary Numan shared his eerie experiences: "I had a big neo-Georgian house on Wentworth golf course, but I was convinced it was haunted." He recounted some mysterious incidents, saying: "Some weird s*** had been going on – I'd come home and the house was in darkness when I was convinced I'd left the lights on." Numan also detailed a deliberate test he conducted: "So one day, I made a point of turning on every single light in the house. I got back from the studio and – f*** me – the house was in total darkness."
