Rory McIlroy Set to Lose $3 Million for Opting Out of RBC Heritage Tournament

Rory McIlroy is set to lose a hefty sum of $3 million from his Player Impact Program payout this year for skipping the RBC Heritage tournament at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, according to a recent report by Sports Illustrated on Thursday. McIlroy’s decision to opt out of his second designated event of the season resulted in a penalty of a quarter of his $12 million payout. Notably, he had already missed the first one, the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, and players are allowed only one opt-out. McIlroy withdrew from the RBC Heritage on Monday following his recent disappointment at the Masters, where he missed the cut.

McIlroy and Tiger Woods were the main drivers behind the PGA Tour’s change in scheduling to make designated events a key feature of the season, aimed at bringing the top players together more often. The RBC Heritage marks the sixth designated event of the season, excluding the Players or Masters. The PIP is a bonus pool, which was $100 million in 2022, based on various on- and off-course factors. Last year, Tiger Woods took home $15 million and secured a top spot, while McIlroy finished second, pocketing $12 million.

To receive full payouts, the PGA Tour had stipulated that players must participate in all designated events, with the option to skip just one. Next year, the PIP payout will be reduced to $50 million, distributed among the top 10 players. This marks a reduction from $100 million to the top 20 and a return to the initial amount from the PIP’s inaugural year. The remaining funds will be distributed via the FedEx Cup Bonus Program and Comcast Business Tour Top 10, which rewards top-performing players on the regular season points list.