Golf legend Jack Nicklaus has reacted to Rory McIlroy’s decision to skip the 2025 Memorial Tournament. The event, hosted by Nicklaus at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, is one of the biggest stops on the PGA Tour. This year is even more special, as the tournament celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Nicklaus “Surprised” With McIlroy Tournament Skip
McIlroy didn’t inform Nicklaus that he would not be playing at the Memorial. Instead, the 18-time major winner found out about the decision at the same time as everyone else through news reports. Speaking to reporters, Nicklaus said he was surprised to hear about McIlroy’s absence and would have appreciated a heads-up.
“Yeah, it surprised me,” Nicklaus stated in a news conference ahead of the Memorial Tournament, which starts on Thursday. “But guys have got schedules and got things they do. And I haven’t talked to him about 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 sometimes you have to make those calls.
This marks the first time since 2017 that McIlroy has missed the Memorial. His absence has drawn attention because the tournament is part of the PGA Tour’s Signature Events, high-profile tournaments that usually include all of the top players. This is also the third Signature Event McIlroy has skipped this year, after missing The Sentry and the RBC Heritage.
“I don’t hold anything against Rory for that. He plays where he feels comfortable. I know he likes to play so many in a row. He likes to play the week before a U.S. Open. And so that’s what he’s doing … it’s very difficult, very difficult. 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 added.
McIlroy to Play at RBC Canadian Open
McIlroy recently made headlines by winning the Masters and completing a career Grand Slam. The Northern Irishman has not commented on the decision to skip the Memorial yet, but multiple reports indicate that his next expected appearance will be at the RBC Canadian Open, followed by the U.S. Open. With the busy summer season approaching, it seems McIlroy is trying to stay fresh for the biggest events.
The Memorial Tournament remains one of the most respected and popular stops on the tour, thanks to Nicklaus’s involvement and the strong field it usually attracts. McIlroy, who plays at Nicklaus’s Bear’s Club in Florida and sought the Golden Bear’s counsel earlier this year prior to the Masters, elected to skip this week’s $20 million Signature Event at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
He is expected to play next week at the RBC Canadian Open, followed by the U.S. Open and then likely the Travelers Championship—another Signature Event.
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