Just around the corner, the Cadillac Championship is set to be the next signature event on the PGA Tour’s schedule. It comes with all the usual stuff expected of a signature event: a larger purse, a shorter run time, and some of the best players competing. However, Rory McIlroy is sitting this one out and continues his break after winning his second straight Masters Tournament.
Rory McIlroy And Signature Events
Fans often point out how strange it is for McIlroy to skip something like a Signature, mainly because he was one of the biggest supporters of their creation. They were created as a response to LIV Golf coming onto the scene and disrupting the whole sport. Rory McIlroy even commented on how well the Signature Events were working for the players and the Tour. With McIlroy’s strong support for the program, it rubs fans and players the wrong way when he doesn’t attend.
Fan And Player Reaction
Reactions to McIlroy skipping the Cadillac Championship are mixed. Starting on the player side of the debate, Michael S. Kim made a snarky comment about it on his Twitter account with the following tweet:
“I hope to get to a point where I decide to skip a signature event even when healthy,” Kim wrote.
A little bit of jealousy towards McIlroy and the success he’s had in the sport, but also respects his skill and achievements. On the fan side of things, opinions are split. One fan wasn’t too sympathetic, writing the following about McIlroy.
“Self-designated ‘ambassador of golf’ and ‘face of the PGA’ nowadays just skips playing the PGA Tour and just plays the majors and money grab DP World tour events in the Middle East. Great golfer, but I can’t stand him.”
Another fan is much more sympathetic towards McIlroy, pointing out that he just made a big accomplishment in his life, and some time off is well deserved.
“Golf fans are so soft. Dude just won the Masters and is in his late 30s. Maybe he wants to relax w/family in friends. Does it actually matter he isn’t playing the world-famous ‘Cadillac Championship’?”
Another wrote about how crowded the schedule is for players like McIlroy.
“Maybe the PGA Tour shouldn’t have a signature event the week after a major?”
This one also points out a major criticism of the Signatures. They are all jam-packed into the first half of the regular season, leaving little breathing room, especially with a couple of majors and the TGL packed into that schedule as well. McIlroy even has this same criticism.
A Signature Without McIlroy
Rory McIlroy may not be at the Cadillac Championship, but other big names will be, like Scottie Scheffler. McIlroy also isn’t alone in his absence; Xander Schauffele, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Aberg, and Robert MacIntyre won’t be attending. Although they won’t be attending, the Cadillac Championship is set to start this weekend. Once the Zurich ends, all eyes will be on the Doral for the signature. The purse is large, and the competition is stiff on the field. All that’s left is to see how it plays out.
Main Photo Credit: © Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
