Overview
- McIlroy, whose absence became official after Friday’s field announcement, will miss a third straight start since winning the Masters as he narrows his schedule to focus on majors.
- Other leading names such as Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick and Robert MacIntyre are also sitting out, with MacIntyre calling this stretch of events “carnage.”
- The inaugural Cadillac Championship is a 72‑player, no‑cut Signature Event at Trump National Doral, offering $20 million and marking the PGA Tour’s first return to the Blue Monster in a decade, with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler headlining.
- Despite huge purses and prior fines for excess absences, players can choose their schedules as independent contractors, and outlets note McIlroy’s skipped Signature Events over recent seasons have meant passing on an estimated $175 million in potential prize money.
- The Tour’s return to a Trump‑owned venue has drawn polarized online reactions covered by outlets across the spectrum, while the Truist Championship next week and the PGA Championship the week after keep scrutiny on the tight calendar.