Rory McIlroy, one of the PGA Tour’s brightest stars, has sparked controversy and potential policy change after choosing to skip the opening round of the 2025 FedEx Cup Playoffs. Despite sitting second in the FedExCup standings, McIlroy is not teeing it up in Memphis for the $20 million FedEx St. Jude Championship. His decision, driven by strategic rest and a track record of poor performances in Tennessee’s summer heat, has drawn both support and criticism.
Rory McIlroy made it clear nearly a year ago that he intended to skip the opening FedExCup Playoff event, and he hasn’t been shy about expressing his lack of enthusiasm for TPC Southwind. Speaking to The Telegraph last November, he said, “I finished, basically, dead last there (last) year, and only moved down one spot in the playoff standings.” In reality, McIlroy placed second-to-last in 2024, missed the cut in 2022 when the field featured 125 players, and finished tied for third in 2023.
Regardless, the show will go on without him, but only just. The field is set at 69 instead of the usual 70, as no alternates are added to replace absent playoff qualifiers. The optics? Not ideal. The absence of a top-tier name from what’s branded as a “playoff” event has raised questions about the integrity of the format and fairness to fans and sponsors.
A recent Golfweek article reveals that changes are already being discussed behind closed doors. Jordan Spieth, a former player director on the PGA Tour’s policy board, suggested that a firmer stance is likely coming. “You might have 1–2 guys do that for an event, but I don’t think it will become a thing because they are still huge events against the best players in the world,” Spieth said. “I think they’re trying to figure out how to make sure you don’t skip both of them and ideally neither of them.”
Is PGA Tour planning to implement a ‘Rory McIlroy rule’ so players can’t skip playoffs? https://t.co/AyTqPmP2i4
— Golfweek (@golfweek) August 5, 2025
The proposed solution? A so-called “McIlroy Rule.” A yet-to-be-finalized Tour policy that would discourage, or outright penalize, players for skipping playoff events if they are otherwise eligible. Whether that means loss of bonus eligibility, point deductions, or monetary fines remains unclear. But what is clear is that McIlroy’s high-profile absence has jolted Tour leadership into action. Fellow policy board member Peter Malnati echoed the concern, calling the situation “very concerning” and hinting that reform is imminent. “I think there is stuff in the works, and I’ll leave it at that,” Malnati said.
While McIlroy’s rest-first strategy may be backed by precedent—Tiger Woods did it in 2007 and still won the FedExCup—the modern era of media scrutiny and $20 million prize purses makes skipping feel different now. Fans are noticing, sponsors are talking, and the PGA Tour appears poised to respond. The Northern Trust in 2018 and The Barclays in 2015 were previous events McIlroy skipped with little consequence. But under the microscope of today’s playoff structure and a more transparent Tour, the same move has triggered calls for reform.
That spotlight isn’t shining on McIlroy alone. As the PGA Tour grapples with how to handle high-profile opt-outs, it’s also facing another dilemma: the surprising number of stars who didn’t qualify at all. Missing by choice is one thing, but missing by performance is another. And this year, some of the sport’s most familiar names find themselves on the outside looking in.
Who is missing the 2025 playoffs entirely?
While McIlroy’s absence from Memphis grabbed headlines, several other well-known PGA Tour players won’t just miss one playoff event; they will miss all three. These players failed to qualify for the top 70, a requirement to enter the postseason. For instance, Tom Kim withdrew from the Wyndham Championship after opening with a 73, sealing his fate. Once a rising star and Wyndham winner, Kim finished outside the top 90 in FedExCup points.
Additionally, Max Homa, a six-time Tour winner, endured a rocky season after changing equipment. Despite high hopes, he posted no top-10s in 2025 and missed the cut at Wyndham, ending his campaign ranked 116th.
Further, Byeong Hun An began Wyndham ranked 69th — inside the bubble — but a missed cut saw him tumble to 74th, becoming the only player to fall out of the playoffs after starting the week inside the line. Sahith Theegala, dealing with lingering neck issues, missed four consecutive cuts to end his season, while Adam Scott, a former No. 1, failed to crack the top 10 all year. Despite flashes of brilliance, Scott also missed the cut at Wyndham and finished 90th in points. These high-profile exits, combined with McIlroy’s absence, have cast a spotlight on the playoff format and raised fresh questions: What’s the true value of playoff participation — and what happens when the stars stay home?
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