Rory McIlroy, a prominent figure in the world of golf, has opted to miss the John Deere Classic this week, continuing his break from competitive play after a heartbreaking experience at the recent US Open. This decision means McIlroy will forgo the opportunity to secure a $1.4 million payout at the event.
The 35-year-old golfer was agonizingly close to ending his decade-long wait for another major championship title at the US Open. However, two unexpected missed putts in the final three holes dramatically shifted the outcome, handing victory to Bryson DeChambeau. McIlroy expressed his profound disappointment in a statement on X, describing it as potentially the toughest day of his professional journey and announcing his intention to take a temporary step back from the sport to recover.
Staying true to his word, McIlroy subsequently withdrew from the Travelers Championship, where a substantial £3.1 million prize fund was up for grabs. This tournament came immediately after his US Open disappointment, suggesting a need for both physical and mental recuperation.
Adding to the list of skipped events, McIlroy also remained absent from last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, another tournament that presented a potential £1.3 million winning sum. By missing these three events, McIlroy has effectively turned down potential earnings totaling around £5.5 million as he prioritizes recovery after the emotional toll of the US Open. It’s worth noting that he did secure £1.8 million as the runner-up at Pinehurst, a testament to his high level of play even in defeat. This period of absence is part of a calculated strategy for McIlroy, who is scheduled to make his return to competition at the Genesis Scottish Open later in July.
Following the US Open, McIlroy refrained from media interviews, choosing instead to communicate his thoughts via social media. “As I said at the start of the tournament, I feel closer to winning my next major championship than I ever have,” McIlroy stated. “The one word that I would describe my career as is resilient. I’ve shown my resilience over and over again in the last 17 years and I will again.” He further added, “I’m going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything and build myself back up for my defence of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon. See you in Scotland.”
Rory McIlroy won the Scottish Open in 2023 ( Image:
Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
The Renaissance Club in North Berwick is preparing to host the Scottish Open from July 11th to 14th. McIlroy is expected to defend his title there before proceeding to The Open at Royal Troon, where he will aim to secure his fifth major title. These upcoming weeks are anticipated to be crucial for McIlroy, who is also slated to represent Ireland at the Olympics alongside Shane Lowry. Having narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the 2020 Games, the 35-year-old will be highly motivated to achieve Olympic success in Paris.
Meanwhile, the John Deere Classic will proceed without McIlroy. The tournament is set to commence this Thursday at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. Im Sung-jae, defending champion Sepp Straka, and two-time winner Jordan Spieth are considered to be among the top contenders for the event.
