‘Rory to LIV Confirmed’: Golf World Left Furious After Rory McIlroy Set to Be Slapped With a 7-Figure Fine Despite Asserting His Loyalty to the PGA Tour
Failing to make the cut at Augusta was just the beginning of Rory McIlroy‘s woes. The Northern Irish star’s decision to withdraw from this week’s RBC Heritage will see him face financial ramifications. Since it is McIlroy’s second designated event missed, he has to cough up a massive seven-figure amount for his absence. He previously missed the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii in January 2023. Though Rory has been the voice of the PGA Tour in the battle against LIV Golf, fans believe he might reconsider his loyalties with the latest penalty.
The designated events have been among the many changes made in the American Tour to outclass the lucrative Tour. According to the term, 17 events in the PGA Tour season will have more prize money with an average of $20 million expected purses. While the change may have seemed promising for the Tour, McIlroy is paying the high price to avoid competing in the upcoming RBC Heritage.
Rory McIlroy set to lose millions from his PIP earnings
With big prize money also come stubborn regulations. According to elevated events guidelines, all top 20 players of the Player Impact Program are supposed to compete in the 17 tournaments. In a worst-case scenario, the golfers are allowed to miss only one event.
McIlroy, who finished in the runners-up spot behind Tiger Woods in the PIP rankings in 2022, missed the first elevated event of the year. The former world number one skipped the Sentry Tournament of Champions since he was preparing for the European Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic.
