PGA Tour golfer heavily criticised for 'incorrect' Rory McIlroy dig

PGA Tour member Nate Lashley was accused of being disingenuous by golf fans after he took a swipe at Rory McIlroy over his decision to skip this week's playoff event. 

McIlroy is eligible to compete in the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis as one of the top 70 players in the overall standings. 

The 36-year-old is currently second to Scottie Scheffler and has a comfortable lead over Sepp Straka and Russell Henley after picking up wins at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The Players and The Masters. 

But the Northern Irishman will not tee it up at TPC Southwind, apparently deciding to recharge his batteries before the Tour Championship and the Ryder Cup. 

It should be noted McIlroy's decision to skip this week was likely made easier given there are precisely zero consequence for not playing. 

McIlroy is already assured of a tee time at the BMW Championship next week and his score will not be affected at the Tour Championship. 

In May, the PGA Tour confirmed the season finale will scrap the starting-strokes format and return to traditional 72 holes of stroke play where all 30 competitors begin on level par. 

McIlroy's decision came as a surprise to some, but the grand slam winner previously stated he was likely to skip the FedEx St. Jude Championship as part of his plan to dramatically reduce his playing schedule. 

Still, his decision appears to have rubbed some PGA Tour golfers the wrong way. 

PGA Tour player director Peter Malnati told Golfweek he was 'very concerned' with McIlroy's choice and confirmed plans were in the works to make sure there is not a repeat of the situation in the future.

"I'll just leave it at that," Malnati said. 

Webb Simpson was among those to sympathise with McIlroy. 

The aforementioned Lashley weighed in on X, replying to PGA Tour member Michael Kim who pointed out German pro Matti Schmid was playing on his own as a result of McIlroy's omission. 

"Does it surprise anyone that Rory skips an elevated and limited field event he tried so hard to create," Lashley wrote. 

It was immediately pointed out by several that the FedEx St. Jude Championship is not a signature event. 

McIlroy, along with Tiger Woods, spearheaded the creation of the elevated (now signature) events in late 2022 in response to the growing threat of LIV Golf. 

But the playoffs have existed since 2007. Woods was crowned the inaugural FedEx Cup champion. 

One X user blasted: "Does it surprise anyone that a PGA Tour member doesn't know that the play-offs have nothing to do with Rory McIIroy and are not an elevated event? Not knowing some basic facts to have a go at someone doesn't look good."

Another added: "There's being salty towards McIlroy and then there's pretending he created the FedEx Cup Playoffs and calling the first event of those Playoffs an 'elevated' (now Signature) event, which it isn't. Not great from an actual PGA Tour player if you ask me."

This person told Lashley: "If you spent more time playing and practicing as opposed to whining, you might be in more of a position to make decisions like Rory has made. He's already at East Lake, so makes logical sense for him to skip this week. It's also a decision he's earned the right to make."

@MarkJones wrote: "It surprises nobody that you've shown, once again, how thick and uneducated you are. Try harder in future, especially with your golf. You might become relevant one day but I wouldn't hold out much hope."