The Sentry 2024: 3 Major Talking Points as Rory McIlroy Shuns the PGA Tour Event

“I’ll probably not go to Hawaii.” – said the Northern Irishman on August 6 last year when asked about his schedule in 2024. Well, he sure does stick to his words! Rory McIlroy had steered clear of the Sentry Tournament of Champions during the previous season as well. However, this time around, the professional seems to have a lot more on his mind owing to the events that transpired in 2023.

From the announcement of the $3 billion merger to the unexpected delay of TGL, he seems to have had his fair share of experiences as both a PGA Tour Pro and a human being. As a result, one can’t help but have their curiosity piqued as the current No.2 turns his back on the upcoming tournament!

Rory McIlroy’s cold shoulder to The 2024 Sentry

Although the PGA Tour would be hoping to kick off 2024 in a grand manner on January 4, McIlroy fans can’t help but face disappointment. He had stated, “My schedule will look pretty much the same as it did this year… I’m not a huge Hawaii guy, so I’ll probably not go to Hawaii,”  during an interview at TPC Southwind last year. But even so, despite the already made decision, there are but a few aspects that come to mind regarding the golfer’s eschewal.

1. McIlroy’s change of heart: The 4X major champ had been an unofficial spokesperson for the PGA Tour for a long time. This had, consequently, dubbed him as a loyalist for the men’s circuit all the while tagging him as a LIV Golf hater. Despite all that, he has once again shunned a PGA Tour event, and that too the first one in the calendar year. However, the past year has witnessed him surprise others many times as he even once mentioned how the Saudi-backed league “definitely had a massive impact on the game.” Besides, the world No.2 was all for Jon Rahm qualifying for the 2025 Ryder Cup.

2. The merger dissatisfaction: The 24X PGA Tour pro had resigned from the Policy Board as a Player Director a while back in a shocking move. Although Jay Monahan and the 34-year-old cited “personal commitments” as the reason behind his decision, one can’t help but wonder if that really is all there is to it. With the amount of chaos surrounding the framework agreement and its failure to meet the supposed deadline on December 31st, it would not come off as a surprise if the Northern Irishman was actually dissatisfied with the state of the whole deal.

3. Rory McIlroy – the Golfer: The resignation letter that the professional sent the golfing body did state “professional and personal” reasons for his departure from the Policy Board. Moreover, with the amount of work needed to launch TGL following its unfortunate accident, coupled with his schedule as an athlete to play at the major and other events, it does make sense when the PGA Tour pro revealed his reasons to leave the body. Well, as he said, “something had to give” for his schedule and this time it was the Sentry that had to be shunned.

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Nevertheless, his fans would be able to catch him at the Dubai Desert Classic that is set to kick off on the third week of January. The athlete is currently preparing for the same which will mark off the DP World Tour schedule for 2024.

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