Rory McIlroy can get around a tough PGA Tour rule because of a special loophole that seems to apply just to him.
Rory McIlroy is about to bend one of the PGA Tour’s toughest rules this season — but he won’t get in trouble for it.
After winning back-to-back Masters in April, beating Scottie Scheffler by just one shot at 12-under, Rory became the first player to defend the green jacket since Tiger Woods in 2001-02. That marked his sixth major win.
His other two majors in 2026 were less successful. He finished tied for 7th at the PGA Championship at Aronimink, where Aaron Rai became the first English winner since 1919. At the US Open, Rory was 6-over and outside the top 30 after a tough back-nine 40 on Saturday. Wyndham Clark ran away with that tournament from start to finish.
So far in 2026, Rory has played only nine PGA Tour events. He plans to compete in the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open Championship, which would bring his total to 11. Adding the three FedEx Cup playoff events should bring him to 14 — one event short of the 15-tournament minimum needed to keep regular Tour membership.
Rory has skipped several big tournaments this year — the Cadillac Championship, RBC Heritage, and Travelers Championship. He even used the week of the Travelers to scout Royal Birkdale ahead of The Open.
Normally, falling below the 15-event minimum would mean losing Tour status. Back in 2016, Martin Kaymer lost his full membership for playing too few events. But Rory is expected to break the rule and still face no consequences.
The PGA Tour’s rulebook allows the commissioner to waive the minimum for foreign players under “medical reasons or other extraordinary circumstances.”
Reporter Bob Harig says the Tour reached out to make sure he knew about this rule, meaning Rory will be fine.
In contrast, legendary golfer Seve Ballesteros wasn’t so lucky. He played only nine events in 1985 — six short of the minimum — and was banned for the entire 1986 season.
On his schedule, Rory explained, “I’ve been doing this a long time, more than half my life at this point. So I’ll pick and choose my spots like I have been for the last 18 months to two years.”
There are still chances for Rory to reach the 15-event minimum too, with the 3M Open, Rocket Mortgage Classic, and Wyndham Championship happening after The Open and before the FedEx Cup Playoffs.