With the RBC Heritage underway, one prominent name remains missing from the tournament’s field. Indeed, after a series of poor performances, four-time major championship winner, Rory McIlroy has given the event a miss. The decision left the PGA Tour with no option but to penalize one of its most loyal members with a hefty fine. But what did other Tour members, such as World No. 99 Joel Dahmen, have to say regarding the judgment?

Joel Dahmen speaks out on Rory McIlroy’s absence from RBC Heritage

The 35-year-old golfer is never shy of speaking his mind out loud. After an impressive opening round display at the RBC Heritage, where he carded a five-under 66, Dahmen spoke about his thoughts on McIlroy’s absence.

Read more: ‘Rory to LIV Confirmed’: Golf World Left Furious After Rory McIlroy Set to Be Slapped With a 7-Figure Fine Despite Asserting His Loyalty to the PGA Tour

“I feel like Rory was leading the charge on the changes that have been made and he helped make the rules. He knew what the rules were. So, he knew what was coming,” he said, before adding a tongue–in–cheek comment on the Brit’s luxury.

“He also has so much money, he doesn’t care about $3 million,” Dahmen quipped.

Why is Rory McIlroy being fined $3 million by the PGA Tour?

The punishment is the first instance of a golfer being charged for not adhering to the PGA Tour’s new rules. With the addition of elevated events on the tour, pro players are allowed to bypass only a single ‘elevated’ event on the schedule.

With his RBC Heritage absence, McIlroy follows up on his miss from the season-opening Tournament of Champions, which puts him in the red zone. Indeed, having chaired the tour’s new regulations, the ironic decisions left the PGA Tour in a tough spot.

But after overwhelming criticism around the issue, the Tour backed up its word and handed McIlroy an exuberant $3 million penalty. The fine is a direct 25% cut from the 33-year-old’s Player Impact Program (PIP) bonus, which awarded him $12 million last year.

While McIlroy provided no reasons for withdrawal from the RBC Heritage, one can figure out his decision on close observation. The former World No.1 had a forgettable outing at the recently-concluded Masters, where he failed to make the cut.

Importantly, it follows a string of subpar results for the Northern Irishman. McIlroy had addressed his issues in the lead-up to the Masters, where he claimed a change in driver had resulted in his downfall.

With a week’s rest on the horizon, the 33-year-old would look to work on his A-game before returning to the tour. In all likelihood, McIlroy will play at the ‘elevated’ Wells Fargo Championship next month.

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