DUBLIN, Ohio — Jack Nicklaus stated Tuesday he was shocked Rory McIlroy determined to skip the Memorial for the primary time since 2017 and that he hasn’t spoken to him since McIlroy received the Masters to finish the profession Grand Slam.
Nicklaus was quick along with his solutions on McIlroy, not desirous to make an enormous deal of his absence on the event that’s celebrating its fiftieth yr.
“I actually do not know why Rory did not discuss to me,” Nicklaus stated. “I am unable to reply that query. There’s nothing I can reply. I do know he has to make a schedule that works for him and what he has to do. And I perceive, as a result of I needed to do the identical factor.
“We simply weren’t included this yr.”
McIlroy is taking part in the RBC Canadian Open subsequent week forward of the U.S. Open. He had performed the Memorial and Canadian Open back-to-back yearly since 2021.
Including to the shock was their relationship. McIlroy is a member at Nicklaus’ residence course, The Bear’s Membership, in Jupiter, Florida, and he sought out Nicklaus forward of the Masters to ask questions on find out how to play Augusta Nationwide.
Nicklaus has not spoken to him since, however he did write a letter of congratulations, as he does for all main champions.
When a PGA Tour icon is the event host, gamers with a historical past of taking part in the occasion typically will name forward in the event that they resolve to skip it. Rickie Fowler as soon as drove to Orlando, Florida, to have lunch with Arnold Palmer and clarify why he could not play Bay Hill.
When requested if it will have been protocol for McIlroy to name him, Nicklaus put up his fingers.
“I’m not throwing Rory below the bus,” he stated. “I like Rory an excessive amount of. He is a superb child. He is performed some nice golf. He is had a variety of issues which have occurred to him. He is acquired to make his personal name on issues. May he have achieved them otherwise? Most likely. However that is all proper. I might most likely have achieved a few of mine otherwise, too.
“I am not complaining about Rory.”
McIlroy has not spoken publicly because the eve of the PGA Championship. He turned down media requests in any case 4 rounds at Quail Hole.
McIlroy received the Canadian Open in 2019. It was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and McIlroy received it once more when he returned in 2022.
“I have never talked to him for him to inform me why or why not. It is simply his name,” Nicklaus stated. “I made a variety of calls that I needed to make — after I performed — to play or not play, and generally it wasn’t as fashionable as folks thought it was. However generally you need to make these calls. I do not maintain something in opposition to Rory for that.
“I am an enormous Rory fan. I at all times have been. I am positive that I’ll stay that means,” he stated. “I simply … I used to be a bit of shocked, sure.”
