DUBLIN, Ohio — Jack Nicklaus mentioned Tuesday he was shocked Rory McIlroy determined to skip the Memorial for the primary time since 2017 and that he hasn’t spoken to him since McIlroy gained the Masters to finish the profession Grand Slam.
Nicklaus was brief along with his solutions on McIlroy, not desirous to make his absence an even bigger deal on the event that’s celebrating its fiftieth 12 months.
“I actually do not know why Rory did not discuss to me,” Nicklaus mentioned. “I am unable to reply that query. There’s nothing I can reply. I do know he has to make a schedule that works for him and what he has to do. And I perceive, as a result of I needed to do the identical factor.
“We simply weren’t included this 12 months.”
McIlroy is enjoying the RBC Canadian Open subsequent week forward of the U.S. Open. He had performed the Memorial and Canadian Open again to again yearly since 2021.
Including to the shock was their relationship. McIlroy is a member at Nicklaus’ house course The Bear’s Membership in Jupiter, Florida, and he sought out Nicklaus forward of the Masters to ask questions on tips on how to play Augusta Nationwide.
Nicklaus has not spoken to him since then, however he did write up a letter of congratulations, as he does for all main champions.
When a PGA Tour icon is the event host, gamers with a historical past of enjoying the occasion usually will name forward of time in the event that they determine to skip it. Rickie Fowler as soon as drove to Orlando, Florida, to have lunch with Arnold Palmer and clarify why he could not play Bay Hill.
Requested if it will have been protocol for McIlroy to have referred to as him, Nicklaus put up his fingers.
“I’m not throwing Rory below the bus,” he mentioned. “I like Rory an excessive amount of. He is child. He is performed some nice golf. He is had quite a lot of issues which have occurred to him. He is received to make his personal name on issues. May he have performed them otherwise? Most likely. However that is all proper. I may most likely have performed a few of mine otherwise, too.
“I am not complaining about Rory.”
McIlroy has not spoken publicly because the eve of the PGA Championship. He turned down media requests in spite of everything 4 rounds at Quail Hole.
McIlroy gained the Canadian Open in 2019. It was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and McIlroy gained it once more when he returned in 2022.
“I have not talked to him for him to inform me why or why not. It is simply his name,” Nicklaus mentioned. “I made quite a lot of calls that I needed to make — after I performed — to play or not play, and generally it wasn’t as standard as individuals thought it was. However generally it’s important to make these calls. I do not maintain something in opposition to Rory for that.
“I am a giant Rory fan. I at all times have been. I am certain that I’ll stay that means,” he mentioned. “I simply … I used to be just a little shocked, sure.”