It is fair to say that Rory McIlroy appeared to be in a much better frame of mind on the golf course during the Scottish Open and The Open Championship following some tough weeks for the five-time major champion.
Rory McIlroy‘s 2025 season has been fascinating to follow. He climbed the mountain by winning The Masters and completing the Career Grand Slam in April. Unfortunately, it seemed that he then found himself struggling for motivation having waited well over a decade to triumph at Augusta National.
But the 36-year-old looked much more like his old self at The Renaissance Club and at the final major of the year. And that may be a real concern for many of his rivals on the PGA Tour.
Of course, the FedEx Cup playoffs start this week. The next three events are particularly significant with the Ryder Cup looming on the horizon.
But there will be one notable absentee at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Rich Beem praises Rory McIlroy for his decision ahead of the FedEx Cup
McIlroy is currently set to be the only player in the top 70 not teeing it up at TPC Southwind. With starting strokes no longer a part of the Tour Championship, it is difficult to see how the Northern Irishman loses out.
And speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Rich Beem believes that McIlroy’s decision will actually boost his chances of winning the FedEx Cup once again.
“It’s not surprising, and the reason being is that Memphis is typically very hot. Could be 90s. And I’m not lying here, you’re drinking 20 bottles of water out there. You’re drinking one per hole at least. On par fives, two. If you’re sitting around, it could be three bottles of water on one hole. It can be that stifling,” he said.
“And then you go to the very next week to Caves Valley, which is a massive, massive golf course. A big hard walk. I think if you want to be front and centre, and if Rory wants to win the FedEx Cup a fourth time, he’s got to save all of his energy. And I think that Memphis can really sap your energy just because of how hot and stifling it is.
“You’re going to play four rounds there, and then you’ve got to go to a big old golf course. And then the same thing at Atlanta with the heat and all of that. So the last three weeks can really take it out of you from a weather standpoint, and so I think Rory taking this week off to save himself for the last two is not a bad call.”
How Rory McIlroy fared at the FedEx St. Jude Championship last year
McIlroy did play the event last year. And it proved to be a very disappointing week for him as he finished in a tie for 68th alongside Jordan Spieth. Only Max Homa finished below the pair, with McIlroy ending up on nine over par for the week.
Crucially, McIlroy only dropped from third to fifth in the FedEx Cup standings. So even if this year’s Tour Championship did involve starting strokes, it would still be understandable if he did not play in Memphis.
McIlroy’s absence does perhaps show that the PGA Tour needs to continue to make changes to the playoff format.
Perhaps the prize pot for the season becomes even bigger, and the FedEx Cup standings start again once the Wyndham Championship is done and players have qualified for the top 70.
If players only make the Tour Championship by finishing in the top 50 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship and then the top 30 at the BMW Championship, then you are not going to have stars resting up like McIlroy is.
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