With Sentry’s elevated importance on the PGA calendar, why isn’t Rory McIlroy there?

Rory McIlroy pushed for elevated events and increased purse strings on the PGA calendar, but is noticeably MIA for the initial promoted tournament, Sentry, taking place this week.

Rory McIlroy finished 2022 at perhaps his highest level, in at least a very long time. He ascended on top of the OWGR as world No. 1, claiming both the FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai, three titles, and a Top 10 finish at every major, including coming oh-so-very-close at The Open (where he placed third).

He also proved his loyalty to the PGA. Being the company man that he is — he sits on the PGA Tour’s Policy Board — it came as no surprise that he took a strong stance against the renegade LIV league, and formed a new sports league with Tiger Woods that compliments the PGA, the TGL, under the umbrella of their sports venture, TMRW Sports.

Recognizing the threat that LIV posed as it siphoned off big names in the sport, they rallied the troops to commit to 13 elevated events, with the PGA opening up the vaults to create more enticing paydays to prevent any more defections to Greg Norman’s lucrative golf league.

To make it very clear where his loyalties stood, the three-time major winner said in November, “Greg needs to go,” about the LIV commissioner.

But cut to January in Kapalua, Hawaii, at the start of what should be a powerful show of unity at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Considering Tiger’s continuing physical challenges, it was left up to a fully fit Rory McIlroy to lead the charge in the type of elevated event he urged so many of his peers to obligate themselves to.

What kind of message does it send about these events if the top golfer isn’t playing alongside them? All the other 39 eligible players are participating. You’re allowed to miss one of these 13 events, but in all honesty, no one expected McIlroy to blow off the very first one.

Rory McIlroy absent from Sentry Tournament of Champions: What does it mean?

It’s a bad look for an already annoyingly fractured sport that continues to refuse any common ground, which seems to only hurt golf fans. Many people applauded the PGA’s increased generosity towards the players, even if some said it came as a result of the Saudi-backed sums being tossed around on the LIV tour. Everyone else seems to be happy to show up in Hawaii for the guaranteed $2.7M paycheck they’ll get at Sentry.

McIlroy’s surprising decision seems to be a personal choice, since he’s only played there once and perhaps wanted more down time before the rest of the season kicks into high gear. One expected him to rise above his own personal playing preferences here and understand the bigger picture at stake.

But it leaves the rest of us marveling at the lack of foresight of his leadership role in the PGA. It is disappointing to say the least.

The Sentry Tournament of Champions starts Thursday, Jan. 5.

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