World No. 3 Rory McIlroy reportedly was docked $3 million for withdrawing from this week’s RBC Heritage under new PGA rules regarding “designated events.”
According to Golf Digest and Sports Illustrated, the fine is for a second absence from a designated event and will be withheld from the $12 million payment to McIlroy from the Player Impact Program.
The tournament began Thursday at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and no reason was specified for the 33-year-old Northern Ireland star’s withdrawal. McIlroy missed the cut at last week’s Masters after carding a 5-over 77 on Friday.
Players ranked in the top 20 of the Player Impact Program are required to participate in designated events, a change the tour made last season as part of a string of counters to LIV Golf’s emergence.
Players are allowed to skip one designated event for personal or professional reasons, but McIlroy already sat out of the season-opening Sentry Tournament of Champions in January.