Tommy Fleetwood has been discussing the FedEx St. Jude Championship and specifically Rory McIlroy’s decision to skip the event in Memphis this week.
Fleetwood is in the field at TPC Southwind, while McIlroy was the only one of the 70 qualified players who chose not to play in the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
The tournament this week is the first of three FedEx Cup Playoff events, so the Northern Irishman choosing not to be in Memphis is not a great look for the PGA Tour
McIlroy has been unfairly criticised for skipping the FedEx St. Jude Championship, considering how much golf he is set to play around the world between now and the end of the year.
And besides, PGA Tour players are independent contractors anyway. They are in no way shape or form obligated to play in any one specific tournament.
Meanwhile, Fleetwood is at the other end of the spectrum to McIlroy.
He is still chasing his first win on the PGA Tour after 161 starts.
Fleetwood had a great chance to win the Travelers Championship back in June but he failed at the final hurdle.
Tommy Fleetwood makes Rory McIlroy claim ahead of the the FedEx St. Jude
Fleetwood loves playing tournaments as regularly as he can, and his main goal of wining on the PGA Tour is clearly the driving force behind that.
The Englishman spoke to SIRIUSXM PGA Tour Radio and responded when asked what he thought of his good friend McIlroy deciding to skip the event in Memphis this week.
He explained: “I like being in a rhythm playing but also, everyone has a choice whether they want to play or not, right.
“Especially someone like Rory, I think he can definitely pick the tournaments he wants to play and aim for the ones he feels like he wants to do best in and then plan his schedule around that.
“I don’t feel like I’m in that position, I like playing when I get the chance to play. We’ve got so many big events now, elevated events, majors, playoffs.
“I’m one who enjoys playing and getting into the rhythm of tour life. I feel best when I’m in that rhythm.
“Also, if you look at the summer, for me I feel like, we finished at the Travelers, then traveled back to Europe with two weeks off then I played the Scottish and the Open then two weeks off. I think it’s then perfect for me to play these three playoff events and that’s the PGA Tour season done.
“Everybody has their own idea of what is going to work best for them. For me, I’m just really looking forward to this week. So many weeks in the world of golf these days is such an opportunity to either change a season, do something special or add to already great careers. I’m just happy to be playing week in, week out and giving it my best shot.“
It’s a great point from Fleetwood. Every golfer is different and they are all entitled to pick and choose which tournaments they play throughout the year.
Is the LIV Golf model actually the way forward?
McIlroy’s decision to miss the FedEx St. Jude Championship has shone a light on the PGA Tour’s model and how fans can never be guaranteed of the best players showing up at tournaments.
LIV have the opposite model.
Their players are contractually obligated to play in every single event on their schedule, and they say that makes it easier for them to negotiate deals with sponsors.
In the future, LIV’s model is probably one that the PGA Tour need to move towards.
Something needs to be done about the FedEx Cup Playoffs, because the Tour Championship starting from an even keel means that there is no incentive for the top ranked players to turn up at TPC Southwind.
It will be interesting to see if the PGA Tour make any changes moving forward, after McIlroy pulled out of the FedEx St Jude Championship.
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