Rory McIlroy snubs golf legend after skipping Memorial tournament
“I really don’t know why Rory didn’t talk to me. I can’t answer that question. There’s nothing I can answer.'
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Rory McIlroy has been a busy man since winning the Masters earlier this year. Too busy, it seems, to make a phone call to a golf legend who is also his friend.
The Northern Irish star apparently has given the same feeling to pal Jack Nicklaus that he did to Masters rival Bryson Dechambeau: The silent treatment.
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Rory McIlroy snubs golf legend after skipping Memorial tournament Back to video
McIlroy is skipping this week’s Memorial golf tournament, yet he did not reach out to Nicklaus — the host and founder of the event – to let him know that he wouldn’t be competing.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Nicklaus said that he was surprised that McIlroy wouldn’t be in this year’s field and that he hadn’t even spoken to him since the Masters in April, when McIlroy won the Green Jacket to complete his career grand slam.
“I really don’t know why Rory didn’t talk to me,” said Nicklaus, himself a career grand slam winner. “I can’t answer that question. There’s nothing I can answer. I know he has to make a schedule that works for him and what he has to do. And I understand, because I had to do the same thing.
“We just weren’t included this year.”
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Traditionally, when legends of the sport host a tournament, players often will call or meet them ahead of time to let them know if they are skipping the event. While McIlroy didn’t reach out to Nicklaus, the 85-year-old said he won’t hold it against him.
“I haven’t talked to him for him to tell me why or why not. It’s just his call,” Nicklaus said. “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. I don’t hold anything against Rory for that.”
McIlroy’s apparent cold shoulder is surprising considering his relationship with the Golden Bear. McIlroy is a member at Nicklaus’ home course, The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Fla., and the 36-year-old even sought out advice from Nicklaus ahead of the Masters in April.
“I am not throwing Rory under the bus,” Nicklaus added. “I like Rory too much. He’s a good kid. He’s played some great golf. He’s had a lot of things that have happened to him. He’s got to make his own call on things. Could he have done them differently? Probably. But that’s alright. I could probably have done some of mine differently, too.
“I’m not complaining about Rory.”
The Memorial is celebrating its 50th year and McIlroy hadn’t missed the event since 2017. McIlroy is set to compete in next week’s Canadian Open, although it’s unlikely that factored into his decision to forgo the Memorial as he has competed in both tournaments every year since 2021.
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