Rory McIlroy has experienced a really strange month or so since he won The Masters in April.
McIlroy fulfilled a lifelong ambition by winning The Masters and completing the career Grand Slam in the process.
The now five-time major champion achieved golfing Nirvana at Augusta National last month, but his golf has been very much a downhill trajectory since then.
The struggles really began when McIlroy’s driver was deemed to be non-conforming at the PGA Championship.
However, rather than control the narrative of that situation, McIlroy made things worse for himself by refusing to address the media during the PGA Championship.
And ever since, he has kept himself away from speaking to the press.
With McIlroy opting for radio silence, golf fans are asking: what on earth has happened to Rory?
Golf fans angry after Rory McIlroy’s decision to skip The Memorial Tournament
McIlroy has decided to skip The Memorial Tournament for the first time since 2017.
It is highly unusual for the Northern Irishman to miss the event at Muirfield Village, and his absence at ‘Jack’s Place’ will just fuel the fire of his critics even more so.
McIlroy has seemed completely off in himself over the past couple of weeks.
And now some golf fans have vented their frustrations on social media, after it emerged that the 35-year-old will not be participating at The Memorial.
One fan on X said, “That’s odd.“
Meanwhile, another golf fan said, “Scottie skipping the Truist is one thing. But skipping Jacks tournament is very disappointing to see.“
Whilst another suggested that McIlroy has let Jack Nicklaus down, “March: Rory asks Jack Nicklaus for help with strategy at Augusta National. April: Rory wins the Masters and the career Grand Slam. May: Rory bails on Jack Nicklaus’ tournament, the year Jack’s wife is being honoured, and, who knows, maybe the last one with Jack in attendance.“
A fourth fan questioned McIlroy’s decision as well, “How do you skip Jack’s event? Isn’t it a signature event? How many are they required to play?“
Then a fifth golf fan said, “One thing I am suspecting is he hasn’t practiced or played much since the Masters.“
Whilst a sixth fan said, “He knows sports fans in Columbus are elite and wants to avoid the ridicule. Smart.“
Meanwhile, a seventh golf fan was highly critical of McIlroy, “Poor decision. Jack has been good to Rory.“
And an eighth fan said, “I think fewer and fewer people tune in to see him anymore. Dude’s got character issues he needs to work out.“
McIlroy is receiving criticism from all angles it seems, but I can’t help but feel like he has brought all of this on himself.
McIlroy’s 2025 season could be remembered for all the wrong reasons
It’s so strange to say, but McIlroy is in real danger of ruining a career-defining season.
He began 2025 spectacularly, with wins at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The Players Championship and of course, The Masters.
McIlroy was slowly making inroads into Scottie Scheffler’s lead at the top of the world rankings.
However, Scheffler then won two tournaments in a row, including the PGA Championship, whilst McIlroy toiled at Quail Hollow and at the Truist Championship the week before.
His failure to address the media once at Quail Hollow led to even more questions being asked of him.
He failed to control the narrative, and now he must suffer the consequences.
McIlroy not playing The Memorial Tournament is yet another decision from him that will increase the speculation even more as to what is really going on with him behind the scenes right now.
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