Rory McIlroy has opted to skip this week's CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament, turning down the opportunity to compete for a £1.2 million prize.
The Northern Irish golf star is taking time away from the course to "recharge" following his historic Masters victory last month.
McIlroy's decision means he'll miss out on the chance to claim a share of the tournament's impressive £7.4 million total prize fund.
The 35-year-old is instead focusing on preparing for the upcoming major season, with the PGA Championship looming on the horizon.
Rory McIlroy has explained his decision to take a week off after the Northern Irishman and Shane Lowry tied for 12th at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last week
REUTERSHis brief hiatus comes after a whirlwind few weeks that have seen him dominate sports headlines.
McIlroy's Augusta National triumph last month fulfilled his lifelong ambition of securing the coveted green jacket.
The victory completed his career Grand Slam, etching his name into the annals of golf history.
He became one of only six players to capture all four major titles in their career.
More impressively, McIlroy is the first European golfer to achieve this remarkable feat.
The 35-year-old's Masters win was the culmination of years of determination and perseverance.
His success has cemented his status as one of the sport's all-time greats.
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The Northern Irishman's achievement has been the talk of the golfing world for weeks.
Following his Masters victory, McIlroy didn't slow down immediately, teaming up with Shane Lowry at the Zurich Classic last week.
Despite winning the event last year, the duo could only manage a tie for 12th place this time around.
"I've got to just take a little bit of time here," McIlroy told reporters after the tournament.
Rory McIlroy finally won The Masters last month
Reuters"It's nice to have a week off, and reset and try to get some practice in."
The champion added: "I'm looking forward to a couple of days off and then sort of kicking the feet up and trying to recharge the batteries a little bit."
"Overall, it's been a good week. It's always good to team up with this man. We've had fun."
McIlroy will now focus on preparing for his forthcoming contests, including the Truist Championship in May.
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Rory McIlroy will be taking a well-earned break after winning The Masters
GETTYFollowing that, he'll head to the PGA Championship, which tees off on May 15.
The Holywood native already boasts two PGA Championship victories to his name.
His last PGA triumph came in 2014, and he'll be keen to add a third title to his collection.
After completing his career Grand Slam, speculation is mounting that McIlroy might be setting his sights on an even more ambitious goal.
Some suggest he could be aiming to capture every major title available on the golfing calendar in a single year.
