McIlroy to stay away from opening Fed-Ex Cup playoff event

Rory McIlroy has elected to remain in Florida and not to contest this week’s Northern Trust tournament in New Jersey.

It will be the first time in four years McIlroy has not contested the opening event of the FedEx Cup Play-Off Series.
The decision comes after his bitterly disappointing distant share of 50th place in the PGA Championship and with his poor Bellerive showing seeing him drop two places on the World Rankings to No. 7 and also slip to 21st on the FedEx Cup standings.
He was quizzed after his final round in the final major of the year of his plans going forward and suggesting an intention not to tee-up in Thursday’s start to the $US 9m Northern Trust in Paramus, New Jersey.

“I’m not sure and I need to assess where I’m at and I think the best thing for me to do right now is to sort of take a couple of days off and reflect on what I need going forward,” said McIlroy.
“The best thing might be to take that first FedEx Cup week off and work on my game, and hopefully come back in a better place for Boston (Dell Technologies).
“Historically, the first FedEx Play-Off event hasn’t been my best of the four.
“I play well in Boston and I’ve played pretty well in the other two, so we’ll see how I feel and do some practice and see if I feel ready to go there and play.
“If I did play the Northern Trust it would playing five out of six weeks leading up to the Ryder Cup but yes, we’ll see.”
To support his claims of a poor opening Play-Off Series event, McIlroy had finished T34th a year ago in the Northern Trust, T31st in 2016, T22nd in 2014, T19th in 2013 and T24th in 2012.

The absence of McIlroy leaves Seamus Power as the lone Irishman teeing-up in New Jersey. Power was the last confirmed entry after the 125-player field was released set to tee-up on the Ridgewood Country Club course.

Power was lying 123rd on the FedEx Cup standings heading into last week’s Wyndham Championship but after missing the Greensboro cut with scores of 74 and 69 the West Waterford golfer had a nervous wait before the 125th spot was confirmed..