Rory McIlroy, the four-time major champion, will not participate in the opening event of the PGA Tour’s play-off series, the FedEx St Jude Championship, scheduled to take place next week in Memphis. McIlroy’s absence was confirmed after the tournament field was released on Friday, and his name was notably missing from the list.

McIlroy, 36, has been on a break since his tied-seventh finish at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush last month. The Northern Irish golfer, who is currently ranked second in the FedEx Cup standings, has opted to skip the Memphis event, which marks the return of world number one Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler recently secured a four-shot victory at the Open, solidifying his position as one of the top players in the sport.

Last year, McIlroy struggled at the St Jude Championship, finishing joint second last with a score of nine over par. This year, the tournament will feature the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings, following the conclusion of this week’s Wyndham Championship. After Memphis, the top 50 players will advance to the BMW Championship in Maryland, scheduled for August 14-17. The season-ending Tour Championship, which includes the top 30 players, will take place in Atlanta the following week.

McIlroy’s next appearances are expected to be at the Irish Open at the K Club and the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in September. He will then return to the United States to compete in the Ryder Cup in New York, where he will represent Team Europe.

McIlroy’s decision to skip the FedEx St Jude Championship raises questions about his strategy for the remainder of the season. With the Ryder Cup on the horizon, the golf star may be focusing on maintaining his form for the prestigious team event. Meanwhile, the absence of such a high-profile player will undoubtedly shift the dynamics of the PGA Tour play-offs.