The Cadillac Championship is the PGA Tour's latest marquee tournament, staged for the first time at Donald Trump’s Trump National Doral in Miami. While the event promises a star-studded field and a massive prize fund, six-time major winner Rory McIlroy has opted out, choosing to rest after his recent Masters triumph. This article explains what the Cadillac Championship is, why McIlroy is absent, and which players could make a splash on the famous Blue Monster course.
## The Cadillac Championship: A New Signature Event In an effort to bring more of the world’s elite golfers together more frequently, the PGA Tour expanded its schedule to include eight "signature" tournaments. The Cadillac Championship was created as part of that initiative, filling a gap left by the former WGC-Cadillac Championship, which was also held at Doral from 2007 to 2016 but has since been discontinued.
Unlike a regular tour stop, the Cadillac Championship is a no‑cut event: all 72 invited players will play all four rounds, and even the golfer who finishes last will still receive a paycheck. The tournament will feature a $20 million prize pool, with the champion slated to earn roughly $3.6 million and 700 FedExCup points. The runner‑up will take home $2.18 million, while the player at the bottom of the leaderboard will still leave with a $40,200 check. These financial incentives, combined with the prestige of a signature event, have drawn a deep field that includes the top‑50 from last year’s FedExCup rankings, all 2026 PGA Tour winners, and a handful of qualifiers from the AON Next 10 and AON Swing 5 rankings.
Additionally, any golfer ranked inside the top‑30 of the Official World Golf Rankings receives an invitation. ## Trump National Doral and the Blue Monster Trump purchased the Doral Resort in 2012 for about $150 million, acquiring four courses, the most famous of which is the Blue Monster. The Blue Monster is a par‑72, 7,500‑yard layout known for its demanding length, large water hazards, and strategically placed bunkers that guard both fairways and greens. The name "Blue Monster" originally referred to the blue tees that players used, but it also reflects the course’s reputation for challenging even the best golfers.
Former winner Adam Scott summed it up: "It's called the Blue Monster for a reason. It's a big golf course, very penal.
The wind can blow, and that's the biggest challenge out here. So you've got to strike it well, just demanding tee‑to‑green.
It's great that we're back." The course has also hosted several LIV Golf events, most recently the 2025 LIV Golf Miami tournament, which saw Marc Leishman edge out 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel by a single stroke. ## Why Rory McIlroy Is Skipping the Event Rory McIlroy, who captured his second green‑jackpot at the Masters in April, announced he would sit out the Cadillac Championship to enjoy a brief period of rest after a grueling stretch of major‑championship success. The Northern Irish star was also a guest at a White House state dinner hosted by President Trump, where Trump interrupted a speech to lavish praise on McIlroy.
Despite the high‑profile invitation and the lucrative purse, McIlroy decided to prioritize recovery and family time over competing in Miami. ## Players to Watch Even without McIlroy, the field is stacked with talent.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will be looking to rebound after a heartbreaking loss to Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff at the RBC Heritage two weeks earlier. Fitzpatrick, now ranked No. 3, is taking a short break after back‑to‑back victories on the PGA Tour—first at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he partnered with his brother Alex Fitzpatrick, and then at another event earlier in the season.
Alex, who earned his tour card for the next two years, will make his PGA Tour debut at Doral, hoping to capitalize on his recent form. Alex Fitzpatrick said, "Just hopefully on the first tee I'll hit the fairway, and then I'll go from there.
I feel like my game is in good shape. I played really nicely last week and over the past couple of months my game has improved a lot.
So hopefully I can continue the form and see where that takes me this week." He added, "I have no expectations. Especially this week, I think it's going to be a whirlwind, and my head's going to be everywhere, but hopefully that calms down after this week and I kind of settle in." Another notable storyline is the return of Justin Rose, who announced a partnership with McLaren Golf and will debut a brand‑new set of clubs built by the Formula 1 team’s affiliate. Rose is eager to prove the equipment works at the highest level after a successful Masters.
## Broadcast Details Sky Sports will provide live coverage of all four rounds. The opening two rounds will be shown on Thursday and Friday at 4 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf, with full‑round coverage beginning at 11 p.m. on Sky Sports Main Event.
The final two rounds will air on Saturday and Sunday from 4 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf. Viewers can also stream the action without a contract via Sky Sports' online platform.
## What to Expect from the Competition Given the no‑cut format, every invited player will have the chance to compete for a share of the purse and valuable FedExCup points. The large field and the challenging nature of the Blue Monster mean that consistency will be key. Players who can manage the wind, navigate the water hazards, and avoid the deep bunkers will have a distinct advantage.
The tournament also offers a unique opportunity for emerging players like Alex Fitzpatrick to test themselves against seasoned veterans in a high‑stakes environment. In summary, the inaugural Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral promises an exciting blend of seasoned champions, rising stars, and a course that demands both power and precision. While Rory McIlroy's decision to sit out adds a note of intrigue, the event remains a marquee showcase for the PGA Tour's best talent, with a $20 million purse and significant FedExCup points on the line.
Fans can catch every moment live on Sky Sports, making it a must‑watch week for golf enthusiasts worldwide.