Rory McIlroy to Skip FedEx Cup Playoffs Opener Despite Strong Standings
By Zamal Uddin
Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy has officially decided to skip the opening event of the 2025 FedEx Cup Playoffs, the FedEx St. Jude Classic, marking his first absence from the playoff opener since the tour shortened the postseason from four to three events.
Why Rory McIlroy Is Skipping the FedEx Cup Opener
McIlroy’s name was notably missing from the commitment list for next week’s playoff opener at TPC Southwind. However, this decision will not affect his championship hopes as he’s already locked into the Tour Championship at East Lake.
Currently ranked second in the FedEx Cup standings, McIlroy holds a comfortable 850-point lead over Sepp Straka, meaning his position remains secure even without competing in Memphis.
The decision to scale back his schedule isn’t new. Last year, McIlroy hinted at skipping the event after finishing T68 (second to last) in Memphis despite opening with a strong round of 68. Speaking to the UK Telegraph in November, McIlroy said:
“I’ll probably not play the first playoff event in Memphis. I finished basically dead last there this year and only moved down one spot in the standings.”
McIlroy’s 2025 PGA Tour Schedule Changes
In addition to skipping the FedEx opener, McIlroy removed the Cognizant Classic, Valero Texas Open, and RBC Heritage from his 2025 schedule, resulting in 16 total PGA Tour starts, three fewer than last season.
He also added the Texas Children’s Houston Open for the first time since 2014.
Despite limited appearances, McIlroy has already secured three wins this season, including a memorable victory at The Masters, keeping him firmly in contention for the FedEx Cup title.
McIlroy’s History at TPC Southwind
McIlroy has never won in Memphis despite eight attempts. His best finish came in 2023 when he shot a final-round 65 to claim third place. However, he missed the cut the following year during the event’s debut as a playoff tournament.
This is not the first time McIlroy has skipped a playoff opener—he previously sat out The Northern Trust in 2018 and The Barclays in 2015.
New FedEx Cup Bonus Structure
The 2025 PGA Tour season introduced a revamped FedEx Cup bonus system, rewarding players more for regular-season performance rather than solely relying on Tour Championship results.
Thanks to his second-place finish in the standings, McIlroy is already set to receive:
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$4 million for finishing the regular season in second
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$6 million from the Comcast Business Top 10 bonus
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McIlroy will likely return for the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship, where he aims to capture another FedEx Cup title and add to his historic PGA Tour legacy.
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