Rory McIlroy, anxious to indulge in the benefits of life as an elite golfer, changed his competition schedule before this week’s PGA Championship at Newtown Square, Pennsylvania on Tuesday He attended a Black Tie dinner with U.S. President Donald Trump and Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla The decision was made after he had filed mandatory entry papers for the event which is part of golf’s tourney circuit
The six-times major winner had been scheduled to play at the PGA Tour’s Signature Event due two weeks ago on the Miami course — until he pulled out after being invited for dinner, held just two days before the tournament started.
“To go down to Doral and then come back up here (to Washington) for that tournament, then fly back down… if I’m not going 100% on the tourney there’s no point in playing it anyway right,” McIlroy told reporters at Aronimink Golf Club ahead of Thursday’s start of PGA Championship.
“So I made the decision that — it’s kind of hard to say, because I’ve got work and stuff at home now too where I’m not just sitting around doing nothing. but it was better for me if I was going to do something like a state dinner then go ahead and take that week.”
The Northern Irishman, in his only appearance since early April’s Masters when he finished T15 – hit a share of 19th last week at the tour’s new Signature Event held at Quail Hollow for its Charlotte NC site finishing with Kristoffer Reitan (Nor) who is one-time PGA Tour winner.
A major week off is nothing new for McIlroy as the Northern Irishman took a three-week hiatus from play before repeating in Georgia their second and becoming just the event’s fourth repeat winner.
He had a cameo in “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” alongside his wife, and McIlroy resumed.
McIlroy said, “I appreciate how lucky I am and how fortunate my situation is in life to be here,” he said.
“But there’s going to come a time when I’m not up here doing this, and I am not competing for major championships.” I suppose that I have to enjoy it while I’m doing it as well.
Stay updated on the latest golf headlines and sports news as Rory McIlroy’s decision to skip the PGA event sparks global discussion among fans and analysts alike.