McIlroy to miss Memorial signature event

For the first time since 2017, Rory McIlroy, the 2018 Masters Champion, will miss the Ohio Memorial Tournament next week.

From May 29 through May 1 until June 1, the event, which Jack Nicklaus will lead, will take place in Muirfield Village.

The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland skipped The Sentry and the RBC Heritage, which is the third time this year that he hasn’t participated in one of the PGA Tour’s marquee events.

The second-ranked player hasn’t played since posting a tie-47th place finish at the US PGA Championship last week, where he was the subject of controversy over a “non-conforming driver” leaving before the second major of the year.

McIlroy did not address the media following any of his four Quail Hollow rounds.

The five-time major champion had previously stated he wanted to shorten his schedule for this year and had already confirmed that he would play in India for the first time in October before making a comeback to the Australian Open after an 11-year break in December.

McIlroy will make his return to the Canadian Open on June 5 as he prepares for the US Open at Oakmont in Pennsylvania from June 12 to 15, while the other two weeks will be secluded.