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The opening round of the 2025 FedEx Cup playoffs began this week at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, and all but one player in the top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings is competing. That one player, however, is extremely notable.
Rory McIlroy told PGA Tour officials well in advance that he wouldn’t be playing in the first round of the playoffs. After all, McIlroy sits second in the FedEx Cup standings entering the week and is essentially a lock to make it to the reformatted Tour Championship regardless of whether he plays in the first two playoff events or not.
Last year, McIlroy tied for 68th in a 70-man field at the FedEx St. Jude but dropped only two spots in the FedEx Cup standings. The year before, he finished third but didn’t move up at all in the rankings.
So it makes plenty of sense that McIlroy decided to skip the event this time around. But the bigger issue is what it means for the PGA Tour going forward.
Rory McIlroy Skipping FedEx Cup Playoff Event Is Big Red Flag For The PGA Tour
Sure, McIlroy is the only big name skipping the event. That means that superstars such as Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Aberg, and many more are all in Memphis this weekend. But how much longer will that be the case?
As Eamon Lynch of GolfWeek notes, there’s little incentive for star players to compete in all three playoff events.
“Signature events were mandatory during their first year of existence, but players quickly vetoed that obligation,” Lynch states. “Contracting the talent is the only thing LIV Golf has gotten right, but the PGA Tour is a long way from enjoying the same leverage over its players. And it’s difficult to see how that doesn’t become a flashpoint between those who think they own the Tour (the players) and those who’ve actually invested a billion-five into it.”
Lynch goes on to note Scottie Scheffler’s recently stated apathy toward the game as another cause for concern.
Sports leagues are built on the backs of star players. If those star players aren’t at your events, people don’t want to watch those events. First McIlroy, then who? It’s a problem the PGA Tour has to figure out, and figure out quickly.