Rory McIlroy avoids huge fine just days after Masters win due to rule change

Jack Otway
Sat, 18 Apr 2026 17:12:44 +0000

Masters champion Rory McIlroy has dodged a huge fine following his decision not to compete at the RBC Heritage, with the veteran swerving the £2.2million penalty imposed on him three years ago.

The Northern Irishman joined an elite group last week by claiming successive Green Jackets, becoming just the fourth player in history to achieve the feat and the first since Tiger Woods managed it in 2002.

McIlroy secured his sixth major championship by defeating Scottie Scheffler by a single shot at Augusta National.

The 36-year-old has not participated in the RBC Heritage since 2020, having also withdrawn last year following his emotional Masters victory.

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His absence in 2023 proved costly after he failed to make the cut at that year's Masters.

PGA Tour rules at the time barred players from missing more than one signature event per season, resulting in the hefty financial sanction.

Those regulations have since undergone significant revision.

Current tour policy permits golfers to withdraw from tournaments without facing monetary punishment.

McIlroy took advantage of this flexibility throughout the early part of 2026, sitting out multiple competitions as he prepared for Augusta while simultaneously managing a back injury.

The rule change represents a substantial shift in how the PGA Tour handles player participation, offering greater freedom for top competitors to manage their schedules around major championships.

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McIlroy drew criticism for avoiding tournaments in the weeks preceding the Masters, opting instead to utilise his champion's privileges for multiple practice sessions at Augusta National.

Rather than travelling to events in Houston or San Antonio, the four-time major winner would fly his private jet to Georgia for intensive course preparation before returning home the same day.

"I did a couple of days where I dropped Poppy to school, flew up here, played, landed back home, and had dinner with Poppy and Erica," McIlroy explained prior to his victory.

"I did a couple of day trips like that where I felt it was a better use of my time than going to Houston or San Antonio."

The strategy proved vindicated as McIlroy dominated proceedings, later revealing that golfing legend Jack Nicklaus had inspired his unconventional approach.

"I joked last week that this place feels like my home course," McIlroy said. "I haven't played anywhere else in the last two or three weeks, really."

The 18-time major champion Nicklaus would travel to venues the week before tournaments and simulate competitive conditions, playing a single ball across four days and recording scores.

"When I've talked to Jack Nicklaus over the years, how he prepared for majors, he would go the week before, and he would simulate a tournament," McIlroy explained.

"I did a little bit of that, and I think that's certainly a good way to prepare going into the next majors."