Rory McIlroy‘s choice to skip the primary leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs — the FedEx St. Jude Basic — has left a PGA Tour Coverage Board participant director “very involved” and will probably result in rule modifications transferring ahead.
The world No. 2 and reigning Masters champion took benefit of a loophole within the new playoff format and decided not to play in the event this week. The highest 70 within the FedEx Cup qualify — Rory is presently No. 2 — for the St. Jude, with the highest 50 then transferring on to the BMW Championship earlier than the highest 30 vie for the Tour Championship.
“Very involved,” Peter Malnati, a participant director on the PGA Tour Coverage Board, instructed reporters Tuesday a few high participant skipping a FedEx Cup playoff occasion. “I believe there’s stuff within the works [to keep it from happening again] and I am going to go away it at that.”
McIlroy, if he selected, might additionally sit out the BMW and nonetheless advance to the ultimate occasion at East Lake, the place all rivals will begin at even par this 12 months after altering from a starting-strokes format.
There is also priority. Tiger Woods (twice) and Jim Furyk have each skipped the primary playoff occasion and have gone on to win the FedEx Cup Championship.
“You might need one, two guys do this for an occasion, however I do not assume it is going to grow to be a factor as a result of they’re nonetheless big occasions towards the very best gamers on this planet,” Jordan Spieth, who beforehand served as a PGA Tour Coverage Board participant director, instructed reporters, in line with GolfWeek. “I believe they’re attempting to determine the way to be sure to do not skip each of them and ideally neither of them.”
McIlroy hasn’t performed since tying for seventh on the Open Championship.
