Rory McIlroy snubs £1.3million payday as he continues to get over US Open nightmare

Rory McIlroy won't be in the running at the Rocket Mortgage Classic this weekend

Golf superstar Rory McIlroy has waved goodbye to his chance on winning the £1.3million top prize at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

McIlroy, 35, won't be competing in Michigan this weekend as he continues to abstain from the PGA Tour circuit following his latest major slip-up. The Northern Irishman is still licking his wounds after a disastrous finish at Pinehurst, where he watched the US Open slip through his fingers to Bryson DeChambeau in a gut-wrenching turn of events.

He made it clear he needed some time off the greens after his meltdown in North Carolina. True to his word, McIlroy's name was notably absent from the 156-man roster set to tee off at Detroit Golf Club starting Thursday, reported the Daily Express.

Following a nail-biting second-place finish at the US Open, McIlroy released a statement saying: "I'm going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything and build myself back up for my defense at the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon. See you in Scotland."

Just last week, McIlroy passed up the opportunity to compete for the massive £3.1m first-place prize at the Travelers Championship. It was there that Scottie Scheffler continued to dominate the PGA Tour, securing his sixth win of the year by defeating Tom Kim in a thrilling playoff.

Scheffler's remarkable achievement made him the first golfer to clinch six PGA Tour victories in a single season since Tiger Woods in 2009, and he's not done yet. However, like McIlroy, Scheffler will be taking a breather and won't be competing in Michigan, either.

Other big names swerving the Motor City this weekend include Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Aberg and Wyndham Clark. That should open up the field considerably, allowing some of the PGA Tour's more understated stars to vie for the title.

McIlroy's choice to skip the competition may not come as a surprise to fans in Michigan. The world No2 has not participated in any of the previous five editions of the tournament, which kicked off in 2019.

McIlroy has already claimed victory twice on the PGA Tour so far this calendar year. He pocketed £1m for his win in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside partner Shane Lowry, then bagged £3.1m for leading the pack at the Wells Fargo Championship two weeks later.

With less than a month to go until his planned return to major action at Royal Troon, McIlroy will be looking to end his search for one of the big four on British soil. The Open marks the end of the major calendar and offers him a final opportunity to claim victory before surpassing the decade mark in his wait.

He previously lifted the Claret Jug in 2014 and has finished sixth or higher in six of his last eight appearances at The Open. McIlroy will be hoping that by skipping competitions like the Rocket Mortgage Classic, he can conserve energy for a more focused effort in Scotland.

Other contenders in the Detroit field will likely be relieved to see one less superstar competing. Players such as Kim, Cameron Young and defending champion Rickie Fowler could benefit in particular as they now emerge as frontrunners for a seven-figure payday.

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