PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan Confirms Rory McIlroy's Big-Money Forfeiture for Skipping RBC Heritage
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said Wednesday that Rory McIlroy will forfeit $3 million in bonus money because he failed to meet the 2023 obligations associated with the new series of designated events.
McIlroy, a member of the PGA Tour policy board who was a big proponent of the designated events that are bringing the top players together more often—including at this week’s Wells Fargo Championship—ran afoul of the rules when he skipped the RBC Heritage three weeks ago.
For this year, players were required to play in 12 designated events outside of the major championships and Players Championship, with the ability to opt-out of one tournament. McIlroy skipped the first one—the Sentry Tournament of Champions—and then became the first player to skip a second when he withdrew from the RBC Heritage in the wake of his missed cut at the Masters.
"When we made the commitment to this schedule with the Player Impact Program, we adjusted for one opt-out and for any second opt-out, you forfeit 25% unless there were some medical issues," Monahan said during a media session with reporters at Quail Hollow Golf Club. "When you’re in a situation like that, you just have to look at the criteria. In terms of any situation like that, we’re going to look at a situation and we’re going to make a decision."
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The Player Impact Program is a $100 million bonus pool that essentially rewarded players based on various metrics, with 23 players participating. Tiger Woods led and is to receive $15 million. McIlroy was second, allotted $12 million.
Players received 75% of their bonus money in January, but to receive the remaining 25% they had to fulfill several obligations, including participating in the designated events, minus one tournament. They are also required to add three tournaments to their schedule with one decided in collaboration with the Tour, as well as commit to a function such as a clinic.
"We certainly have our minimums, we obviously signed up for this designated event series this year," McIlroy said Tuesday. "I obviously knew the consequences that could come with missing one of those. It was an easy decision, but I felt like if that fine or whatever is to happen was worth that for me in order to get some things in place."
McIlroy returns at Wells Fargo this week, where he has won three times including in 2021.
The Wells Fargo event is one of the 12 designated this year, which also include the WM Phoenix Open, Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational, WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship, RBC Heritage, the Memorial, Travelers Championship and the three FedEx Cup playoff events.
There will be no Match Play next year so the designated events will drop to eight, not counting the majors, Players and FedEx playoffs.
Unlike this year, the PIP will not be tied to participation (it is being reduced to $50 million total) in 2024 and there will be no required minimum. Players will be free to compete in as many of the designated events as they want, with the danger being if they miss, they will be foregoing guaranteed FedEx Cup points and earnings. None of the tournaments are expected to have 36-hole cuts.
"We’ve tried to create the right parameters and structure to make certain that players want to show up," Monahan said. "You’re looking at the consequences in terms of FedEx Cup points, sizes of fields, concentration of top players and them having the ability to compete against each other. So the confidence is high."