A year ago, the PGA Tour opted to move the Memorial Tournament out of its traditional spot on the schedule.

Typically contested two weeks before the U.S. Open on Memorial Day weekend, it was instead held one week before the third major championship of the year.

And that decision that didn’t sit well with Rory McIlroy, who didn’t believe the Memorial should be treated as what he called a “tune-up for the U.S. Open,” stating an event hosted by Jack Nicklaus “needs to stand on its own a bit.”

Nicklaus wasn’t pleased with the change either, and perhaps that’s why the Memorial is back in its usual spot this year. But despite the switch, Rory will not be in Ohio when the action kicks off at Muirfield Village next Thursday.

The PGA Tour released the list for the 72-man field on Friday, and, as you can see below, McIlroy’s name is not on it.

As such, McIlroy has now opted out of three Signature Events this year, as he also skipped the season-opening Sentry in Maui and the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head the week after his historic victory at The Masters.

And just as he got ripped for failing to speak to the media following all four of his rounds at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club, where he tied for 47th, Rory is taking a lot of heat for this decision as well.

Just go on social media, punch in “Rory McIlroy Memorial,” and see for yourself.

And perhaps some of that’s justified, as these Signature Events were designed to get the PGA Tour’s best players together more often.

So, skipping nearly half of them certainly isn’t the greatest look, especially since he holds such high regard for Nicklaus and hasn’t missed the Memorial since 2017.

In McIlroy’s defense, however, he made it crystal clear that he was looking to play a little lighter schedule this year.

And had he opted to tee it up at Muirfield, he would’ve played four straight weeks, as he’s already committed to the RBC Canadian Open (June 5-8), the U.S.

Open (June 12-15), and the final Signature Event of the year, the Travelers Championship (June 19-22).

So, take that for what it’s worth. Perhaps Rory will explain his decision once he arrives in Toronto for the Canadian Open, which he’s won twice. But, of course, that will only happen if he chooses to end his media silence.