Rory McIlroy withdraws from Cadillac Championship at Trump Doral
Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral as he continues to rest following his recent Masters victories.
The PGA Tour returns to the famous Blue Monster course in Miami this week for the first time in a decade.
A lucrative $20m (£14.8m) prize purse is on offer for the signature event.
However, the world number two has opted to skip the tournament and forgo the £2.7m top prize to extend his post-Augusta hiatus.
Trump disappointment as stars sit out
McIlroy is not the only high-profile absentee from the upcoming Florida event.
Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, Bob MacIntyre and Ludvig Aberg have also chosen to miss the tournament.
The Northern Irishman’s decision will likely frustrate former US President Donald Trump, who owns the Doral venue.
Following the recent Masters tournament, Trump used his Truth Social platform to directly urge the reigning champion to compete.
“He performed tremendously under intense pressure, something which few people would be able to even think about doing. With each year, Rory is becoming more and more a LEGEND! I look forward to watching him compete in two weeks at Doral.”
Scheffler returns as Lowry seeks new partner
Despite the notable withdrawals, world number one Scottie Scheffler is confirmed to play in what serves as his final preparation before his PGA Championship defence.
The ripple effects of McIlroy’s extended break have also impacted his Ryder Cup team-mate Shane Lowry.
The duo claimed victory together at the 2024 Zurich Classic in New Orleans, but Lowry was forced to find a replacement for this year’s £7.1m team event.
After the four-time major winner confirmed his intention to rest, Lowry faced numerous rejections before finally securing Brooks Koepka.
The Irishman detailed the difficult search for a new playing partner to The Golf Channel.
“I asked about 10 or 12 other guys first, and they all said no.”
