Rory McIlroy to take a break after PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy has decided to step away from the course for a fortnight following his tied-seventh place at the PGA Championship, reports BritPanorama.
The Northern Irishman will not participate in the CJ Cup Byron Nelson and instead will focus on recuperating before his next appearance. His return is scheduled for the Memorial Tournament in Ohio starting June 4.
This marks a brief hiatus of just over two weeks for the world number two. McIlroy finished the PGA Championship with a round of one-under 69, concluding the tournament at four under par, five shots behind champion Aaron Rai.
For McIlroy, it was a frustrating pursuit for what would have been his third PGA Championship title. His efforts were overtaken by Rai, who celebrated his first major victory and took home a prize of $3.69 million, approximately £2.75 million.
McIlroy’s consolation for his performance was $637,050, translating to just over £475,000. This decision to miss the Byron Nelson event isn’t unprecedented; he also opted out last year to “recharge the batteries a little bit.”
The four-time major winner has expressed a preference for selecting tournaments more judiciously, and his current course of action aligns with that strategy. As for Rai, having triumphed in the event, he reflected on the surreal nature of his success: “It has been a frustrating season, so being stood here is outside of my wildest imagination.”
This development shines a light on McIlroy’s ongoing journey in balancing peak performance with personal well-being, illustrating the inherent tensions within professional sport.
