McIlroy Opts Out of Cadillac Championship at Trump’s Doral Course

The Cadillac Championship, the PGA Tour's newest signature tournament, has taken center stage at Trump National Doral in Miami, but Rory McIlroy has decided to sit this one out. To help viewers understand the event, its origins, the venue, the field and the implications of McIlroy's absence, we break down everything you need to know.

### What is the Cadillac Championship? The Cadillac Championship is the latest addition to the PGA Tour’s roster of eight signature events, a series designed to bring the sport's elite competitors together more frequently throughout the season. It should not be confused with the former WGC‑Cadillac Championship, which was also held at Doral between 2007 and 2016.

This new tournament is a stand‑alone event, fully sponsored by Cadillac, and it marks the first time the Tour has branded a competition around the luxury car maker in this particular format. ### Why the PGA Tour created a new signature event The Tour’s headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, has been working to increase the number of high‑profile tournaments that attract the world’s top players on a regular basis. By expanding the schedule to eight signature events, the PGA Tour hopes to provide more opportunities for marquee match‑ups, larger prize pools and greater television exposure.

The Cadillac Championship was conceived as part of that strategy, offering a $20 million purse and a no‑cut format that guarantees every invited player will compete through the weekend. ### The venue: Trump National Doral and the Blue Monster Donald Trump purchased the Doral Resort in 2012 for roughly $150 million (£111 million). The property includes four courses, the most famous of which is the Blue Monster—a 7,500‑yard, par‑72 layout that has long been considered one of the toughest tests in American golf. The name "Blue Monster" derives from the original blue‑tee designation and the course’s massive, intimidating character.

It is dotted with extensive water hazards, deep bunkers placed strategically on fairways and around greens, and it is subject to variable wind that can turn a routine shot into a disaster. The Blue Monster has a storied history. It hosted the WGC‑Cadillac Championship for nearly a decade and has also been a venue for LIV Golf events, most recently the 2025 LIV Golf Miami tournament where Marc Leishman edged out 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel by a single stroke.

Adam Scott, who won the last PGA Tour event at Doral in 2016, summed up the course’s reputation: "It's called the Blue Monster for a reason. It's a big, penal course.

The wind can be a huge factor, so you have to strike it well from tee to green. It's great to be back." ### Who is playing? A total of 72 of the world’s highest‑ranked golfers have received invitations to the inaugural Cadillac Championship.

The field is assembled through a combination of automatic qualifications and discretionary exemptions: * The top‑50 players from the previous year’s FedExCup points list automatically qualify. * Any player who secured a PGA Tour victory in 2026 receives an exemption. * Additional spots are allocated via the AON Next 10 and AON Swing 5 rankings, which reward the highest‑ranked FedExCup players not already exempt. * The top‑five FedExCup points earners who are not otherwise exempt also gain entry.

* Finally, the 30 highest‑ranked players in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) are invited. Because the tournament is a no‑cut event, every participant will play all four rounds, and even the player who finishes last will still earn a paycheck – a $40,200 (£29,808) cheque.

### Rory McIlroy’s decision to skip the event Rory McIlroy, the six‑time major champion who captured his second Masters title in April, announced he would sit out the Cadillac Championship. After his Masters triumph, McIlroy opted for a brief break to recharge, and the timing of the Doral event coincided with his planned downtime. Interestingly, McIlroy was recently seen at a White House state dinner hosted by President Trump, where the president interrupted a speech to lavish praise on the Northern Irish star.

Despite the high‑profile encounter, McIlroy chose not to travel to Miami for the tournament. ### The rest of the field and storylines to watch Even without McIlroy, the roster 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 also absent, having taken a short break following consecutive PGA Tour victories – a feat not achieved since Scheffler in 2024.

Fitzpatrick’s recent triumph came at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a team event where he partnered with his brother Alex Fitzpatrick. Alex, who earned his PGA Tour card for the next two seasons, will make his first start as a Tour member at Doral. Alex Fitzpatrick expressed modest expectations: "I just hope to hit the fairway on the first tee and go from there.

My game feels solid after a strong week last month, but I have no pressure – just trying to enjoy the whirlwind of the week and see where it takes me." Another notable return is English veteran Justin Rose, who is set to debut his new McLaren Golf equipment after signing a groundbreaking partnership that makes him the first golfer to represent the Formula 1 team’s brand. Rose will be eager to translate his recent form into a strong showing at Doral. ### Prize money and FedExCup points The Cadillac Championship offers a $20 million (£14.8 million) purse, with the champion slated to collect $3.6 million (£2.67 million). The runner‑up will receive $2.18 million (£1.56 million), and even the last‑place finisher walks away with $40,200.

In addition to the cash, the winner will earn 700 FedExCup points, a substantial boost that could influence the season‑long race for the Tour Championship. ### Broadcast details Sky Sports will provide live coverage of all four rounds.

The opening rounds on Thursday and Friday will begin at 4 p.m. on Sky Sports Golf, with a full‑round broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event at 11 p.m. The weekend rounds will air from 4 p.m.

on Saturday and Sunday on Sky Sports Golf. Viewers can also stream the action without a contract through Sky’s online platform. ### What to expect The Cadillac Championship promises high drama, a world‑class field, and the unique challenge of the Blue Monster.

While McIlroy’s absence leaves a notable gap, the tournament still offers plenty of storylines – from Scheffler’s quest for redemption to the debut of Alex Fitzpatrick as a Tour member and Justin Rose’s new equipment rollout. With a massive purse, valuable FedExCup points and the allure of a no‑cut format, the event is poised to become a staple of the PGA Tour calendar. Fans can tune in to Sky Sports for comprehensive coverage and see which golfer will conquer the Blue Monster and claim the inaugural Cadillac Championship title.