McIlroy To Miss PGA Tour Play-off Opener

Rory McIlroy will not participate in the opening play-off event of the PGA Tour season next week.

The Masters champion was not included in the field for the FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis, which was announced yesterday.

Northern Ireland’s McIlroy has not played since finishing tied for seventh at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush last month.

The tournament in Memphis will mark the return of world number one Scottie Scheffler, following his four-shot victory at the Open.

Three-time FedEx Cup winner McIlroy, 36, struggled at the St Jude Championship last year, finishing joint second last with a score of nine over par.

The top 70 in the FedEx Cup standings after this week’s Wyndham Championship will qualify for the St Jude Championship.

Following Memphis, the top 50 will progress to the BMW Championship in Maryland from 14-17 August.

The season-ending Tour Championship, featuring the top 30 players, will take place in Atlanta the following week.

McIlroy, who is currently second behind Scheffler in the FedEx Cup standings, is scheduled to compete in the Irish Open at the K Club and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in September before returning to the United States for the Ryder Cup in New York.