Here's why McIlroy is skipping the Sentry Tournament of Champions

Rory McIlroy. Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports

Here's why Rory McIlroy is skipping the Sentry Tournament of Champions

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 1/2/23

One of the biggest headlines to come out of the golf world at the end of 2022 was that the PGA Tour was adding "elevated" events to the 2023 calendar. These events offer even bigger winnings in an attempt to deter members from leaving to join LIV Golf because of the money involved with the Saudi Arabia-funded breakaway league.

But the chance at a big payday has notably not attracted the world's No. 1-ranked golfer, Rory McIlroy. And golf fans across the world are wondering why one of PGA's best supporters isn't participating.

Rory McIlroy officially not in the field for next week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions.
— Matt Vincenzi (@MattVincenziPGA) December 30, 2022

Golfweek revealed that the answer is simple: PGA Tour golfers are allowed to skip one elevated event this year. For McIlroy, he just so happened to choose the season-opener to skip.

Instead, McIlroy will start his 2023 season at the DP World Tour's Dubai Desert Classic at the end of the month. And for McIlroy's sake, hopefully the Irishman has a better finish at this year's event than he did at last year's.

Rory McIlroy started 2022 by throwing away the Dubai Desert Classic and giving us the classic quote from the video below.

Rory ended 2022 as world number 1.

What a difference a year makes. What a game golf is. Can't wait to bet on it all over again in 2023! pic.twitter.com/qExfZeKt5l
— Golf Betting Club (@golfbettingclub) December 31, 2022

As for this week's Tournament of Champions, world-ranked No. 5 Jon Rahm is the early favorite to win the event listed at 6-1 odds at DraftKings. The event tees off at the Kapalua Plantation Course in Hawaii on January 5.

The purse for the Sentry Tournament of Champions is $15 million.

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