Jack Nicklaus reacted to Rory McIlroy's decision to miss the prestigious Memorial Tournament he hosts, expressing understanding despite the surprise among fans. McIlroy's choice is notable as he has never won this event and there is a substantial prize pool of $20 million. Nicklaus, reflecting on his own career choices, emphasized the respect for McIlroy's decision, noting that athletes often face tough calls on tournament participation. This year marks the first time McIlroy has missed the Memorial since 2017, raising eyebrows in the golf community.
I haven't talked to him for him to tell me why or why not. It's just his call. I made a lot of calls that I had to make when I played to play or not play and sometimes it wasn't as popular as people thought it was.
It's surprising because McIlroy hasn’t won this event before and there's $20 million prize money at stake.
This will be the first time the Northern Irishman hasn't played the Memorial Tournament since 2017.
Jack Nicklaus emphasized that while he's surprised, he ultimately respects McIlroy's decision and understands the difficult choices athletes must make.
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