Rory McIlroy finally conquered his demons at Augusta National Golf Club this past Sunday to win his first Masters title, thus becoming just the sixth player in golf history to complete the career Grand Slam.
After sinking the winning birdie putt in the playoff against Justin Rose, the 35-year-old fell to his knees and sobbed as all the pent-up anguish was expelled from his body at once. Can you blame the guy for taking a week off after the most emotional day of his career?
Unsurprisingly, McIlroy's name didn't appear in the field for this week's RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, which is the fifth of eight Signature Events on the 2025 PGA Tour schedule.
The Northern Irishman revealed in Butler Cabin after the final round of The Masters that he plans on flying back home this week to celebrate with his family. Truthfully, he deserves every second of that trip.
This will mark the second Signature Event McIlroy has skipped this year, as he also didn't play in the season-opening Sentry because he was still overseas playing in the DP World Tour.
McIlroy made his PGA Tour season debut in February at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, winning by two strokes over his good friend, Shane Lowry. He recorded modest finishes at The Genesis Invitational and the Arnold Palmer Invitational before winning The Players Championship, which isn't designated as a Signature Event.
McIlroy returned to the PGA Tour for a Masters tune-up at the Texas Children's Houston Open before heading to Augusta National and securing the biggest win of his career.
When will Rory McIlroy return to the PGA Tour?
Skipping the RBC Heritage was likely McIlroy's plan all along.
He mentioned ahead of the 2025 season that he plans to cut back on his schedule after playing in 27 events last year, his most since 2010. Harbour Town has never quite fit his eye, either. McIlroy has played the RBC Heritage only three times in his career, and his best finish came last season with a T33.
As for the next time we'll see McIlroy, he plans to return to the United States later this month to defend his title at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside Lowry. The PGA Tour's lone team event is set to begin on April 27.
We are excited to have @McIlroyRory and @ShaneLowryGolf back on New Orleans to defend their 2024 Team Championship! See you April 24-27. For more info on this year's event, https://t.co/2hSoq5Y4Ih pic.twitter.com/1uVUoYpOui
— Zurich Classic (@Zurich_Classic) February 20, 2025
After the Zurick, McIlroy will likely take a week off and return on May 8 for the Truist Championship at The Philadelphia Cricket Club, the next Signature Event on the schedule.
He'll then tee it up the following week at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club, where he's won four times in his career.