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Daily Record
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
LIV Golf's Phil Mickelson mockingly responds to Rory McIlroy's PGA Tour snub of Memorial Tournament
McIlroy is skipping the Memorial Tournament for the first time since 2016, with PGA Tour commissioner Monahan defending players' freedom to select their schedules LIV Golf's Phil Mickelson has taken a swipe at PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan over his defence of Rory McIlroy's decision to give this week's Memorial Tournament a miss. Masters champion McIlroy is sitting out his third signature event of the season, having previously missed The Sentry and the RBC Heritage. The Northern Irishman's decision to skip the tournament at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, follows his refusal to speak to the press after each round of the PGA Championship a fortnight ago. McIlroy's media snub came on the back of a report that his driver didn't pass standard testing by the United States Golf Association ahead of the tournament, forcing him to switch to a backup. The 36 year old ended up sharing 47th place at Quail Hollow. The world No. 2 wasn't in the lineup for the Charles Schwab Challenge last week, and the Memorial Tournament marks the third of the tour's $20 million elevated events that he has chosen not to participate in this year. McIlroy hasn't yet given a reason for his absence at Muirfield Village, even to tournament host Jack Nicklaus, although he is scheduled to play three consecutive events starting next week at the Canadian Open. Monahan has made it clear that he isn't bothered by McIlroy's absence this week, praising his support for the tournament over the years. The commissioner also believes one of the strengths of the PGA Tour is players' ability to decide when and where they compete. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan spoke to Sports Illustrated about player autonomy within the tour. "You look at the beauty of our model is that our players have the ability to select their schedule," Monahan said. " Rory McIlroy I think has played this tournament every year since 2017 [13 times overall] and you look at the tournaments he has supported ... I don't have any concern because you look at this, on balance, over time, his support of our tournaments and our partners is extraordinary." Highlighting Rory McIlroy's fantastic season, Monahan continued: "Look at the season that Rory has had. He's had a life-altering season. He's won the Players Championship, you win the Masters Tournament, you win the [career] Grand Slam and you win the ATandT Pebble Beach Pro-Am." Phil Mickelson, instrumental in LIV Golf 's inception last year, reacted with laughter to Monahan's remarks. He dropped a couple of laughing emojis as a reply to Monahan's comments on social media. Additionally, Mickelson seized the chance to critique the PGA Tour's offerings. While PGA Tour golfers enjoy the freedom to choose which events to enter from a packed roster of stateside competitions, LIV Golf members are bound to play across the entirety of its more limited yet worldwide schedule. Six-time major winner Mickelson thinks the PGA Tour's current model, where players aren't required to participate in specific events, benefits the players but is limiting the tour's global growth. Sponsors are uncertain whether top players will compete in the events they're supporting. "It's why the PGA Tour won't ever be able to move throughout the world, why sponsors don't know what they are buying, why fans haven't seen all the best compete against each other consistently for decades, and why no other sport successfully uses this model. It was great for me and all players, but not good for anyone else."
The 42
2 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Jack Nicklaus remains ‘big fan' of Rory McIlroy despite Memorial Tournament miss
JACK NICKLAUS ADMITTED he was surprised that Rory McIlroy was not competing in his Memorial Tournament this week, but insisted he remained 'a big fan' of the 2025 Masters champion. 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. 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. Advertisement '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.' Jack Nicklaus (file photo). Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Nicklaus had lunch with McIlroy ahead of the Masters and gave his seal of approval to the Holywood man'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.'
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
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 — 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.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jack Nicklaus remains ‘big fan' of Rory McIlroy despite Memorial Tournament miss
Jack Nicklaus admitted he was surprised that Rory McIlroy was not competing in his Memorial Tournament this week, but insisted he remained 'a big fan' of the Masters champion. 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 — 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.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
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 — 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.'
