Jack Nicklaus founded The Memorial Tournament in 1976, and Rory McIlroy, a frequent presence at Muirfield Village Golf Club, will miss it for the first time since 2017. This absence stands out due to the current controversies surrounding the Northern Irishman. Following his T47 finish at the PGA Championship and issues with a “non-conforming” driver, McIlroy has avoided the media. His absence from the Charles Schwab Challenge and now the Memorial Tournament has stirred up the golf world. One retired PGA Tour pro even jumped into a war of words to defend him, sparking comparisons with LIV Golf’s much-criticized schedule. So what’s really going on behind the scenes?
After skipping the Charles Schwab Challenge, the Irishman flew with his caddie, Harry Diamond, to watch Manchester United lose to Tottenham in the Europa League Final. McIlroy will next play at the RBC Canadian Open, where he has won twice. After that, he will compete in the U.S. Open. However, a fan expressed frustration over the lack of discussion about McIlroy not taking part in The Memorial Tournament, and thus breaking his 8-year-old tradition, noting the irony: “People will talk about the LIV schedule and prep for majors Rors will play just one tourney between the pga and US Open No one will comment though.”
The fan’s point isn’t misplaced. LIV golfers find their schedule increasingly challenging as they prepare for major championships. Extensive travel to countries like Mexico, Korea, and Saudi Arabia contributes to their grueling pace. This packed schedule sparked a debate on Golf Channel, with NBC’s Ryan Lavner noting, “I think Brooks Koepka said it takes them about a week to recover from going overseas, specifically to Asia.”
The retired PGA Tour pro Colt Knost sharply replied, “He plays when he wants. What is there to talk about, Andrew?” Andrew countered that if critics target LIV players for their preparation, the same standard should apply to McIlroy, especially after his recent T47 finish (PGA Championship). Knost insisted he has never discussed LIV Golf schedule issues, stating, “Yeah but you’re acting like I said it. Which I didn’t. Don’t lump everyone in together. We all have our own opinions.” Andrew pointed out that if neither McIlroy nor any LIV golfers win the U.S. Open, the media will still rush to criticize the LIV Golf schedule. Despite the heated exchange, the controversy surrounding the LIV Golf schedule isn’t new.
Yeah but you’re acting like I said it. Which I didn’t. Don’t lump everyone in together. We all have our own opinions
— Colt Knost (@ColtKnost) May 24, 2025
Ahead of the PGA Championship, Paul McGinley pointed out the challenges LIV Golf stars face in Major championships, including worldwide travel and fewer events that leave them underprepared. While Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau have won Majors since joining LIV, players like Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, and Cameron Smith have experienced a decline in their performances. McGinley believes PGA Tour golfers hold the advantage in Majors due to their consistent play in the U.S. and access to more high-quality tournaments for preparation.
And Rory McIlroy? Since achieving the career Grand Slam at Augusta National on April 13, McIlroy has recorded two top-12 finishes, tying for 12th at the Zurich Classic and finishing 7th at the Truist Championship. While we are yet to hear from McIlroy, this isn’t the first time Colt Knost has exchanged heated online debates.
That one time, Colt Knost argued with Phil Mickelson over OWGR
In 2023, Phil Mickelson and Colt Knost engaged in a heated Twitter debate over LIV Golf stars receiving OWGR points. Knost questioned why LIV Golf failed to meet the OWGR criteria before launching, suggesting that if they were upset about the ranking system, they should have addressed it beforehand. He remarked, “Serious question. Y’all are so upset about the OWGR, if you knew the criteria when you’re starting a tour why wouldn’t you just meet it?” This comment ignited a back-and-forth discussion about the legitimacy of LIV Golf’s claims.
Mickelson responded by emphasizing that the OWGR was responsible for ranking all players globally, not just those on the PGA Tour. He pointed out the potential conflict of interest in the OWGR’s delay in awarding points to LIV Golf players, stating, “It is not our job. It is the owgr’s job to rank ALL the players in the world.” Mickelson also expressed that he did not need OWGR points for himself, framing the issue as a matter of doing what was right and calling out the collusion that he believed occurred behind closed doors to benefit the PGA Tour.
As the conversation progressed, Mickelson challenged Knost’s perspective, questioning why LIV Golf faced exclusion from receiving points despite having many talented players. Knost tried to deflect by asking why the world ranking points hadn’t been discussed “before starting a tour,” but Mickelson countered that the OWGR clearly indicated they would do everything in their power to shut LIV down.
The post Retired PGA Tour Pro Gets in Debate for Rory McIlroy as He Breaks 8-Year Tradition While Avoiding Media appeared first on EssentiallySports.